Ravens hold on for Win
Vermont Ravens 13th season
New England Football League 26th season

Home opener 2019
July 21, 2019 1:00PM Kick-off
So. Burl. HS

Staff Report

New Haven Venom - 18
Vermont Ravens – 21

Ravens FB/SS #24 De-Eric (Bud) O’Neal scored twice during the frantic last 3:00 of the first half. The first on a run up the middle from 7 yards out and the second a 6-yard run off the left side with 37 second left. O’Neal also recorded an interception from his strong safety position returning it 40 yards into Venom territory to stop a drive. LB/DB #4 Omar Jones came up with a strip and recovery to get the ball back for the Ravens right at the 2:00 warning.

The first quarter was scoreless. QB/DE #20 Roy Rose intercepted a pass at the 3:57 mark and gained a couple yards before being brought down. Rookie free safety #13 Shaquille Urie combined with corner #31 DB/WR Jeric Tyler and DB/WR #1 Matthew Gomes to help foil some long passes knocking the ball away.

In the second quarter Vermont got on the board when Rose hit WR/LB #18 Terrance (Tedo) Whitney on a swing pass and Whitney was off to the races getting the corner and finishing in the end zone from 14 yards out. The extra point attempt by #58 Juju Ayida was blocked and the score was Vermont 6, Venom 0 at the 11:08 mark of the quarter.

Lots of back and forth continued and the next score didn’t happen until O’Neal made his first touchdown run at the 3:00 mark. Rose hit RB #3 Akeem Williams on a quick out for the successful 2-point conversion making the score 14-0 Ravens. Ayida’s second extra point attempt after O’Neal’s second touchdown was good and the score was 21-0 Ravens 37 seconds left.

New Haven didn’t travel the 4 hours in a bus to give up and #10 William McClary promptly took the kick-off back 80 yards to score with 21 seconds left. The two-point conversion run was good and the half finished with the Ravens up 21-8.

During the third quarter Ravens rookie free safety Shaquille Urie was once again all over the field making plays. The big one being at 9:09 when he went way up and got the ball coming down just outside the goal line tackled on the 1.

Vermont starting their drive just outside of the end zone tried to pound the football but a tough Venom front didn’t let them escape. Rose, with pressure coming, tried to scramble right but an alert Venom linebacker came up and made the stop in the end zone for a safety. 2pts. and the Ravens must punt the ball right back to New Haven. 21-10 Ravens with 7:49 left third quarter.

The last score of the day would be the Venom with an interception return of 40 yards and adding a successful 2pt. conversion the score was suddenly 21-18 Ravens with 12:10 remaining in the game.

Vermont’s defense was tested a few more times down the stretch, but each time came up with the stop when needed as well as the Raven offense with the offensive line of #50 Anas Ali, #79 Curtis Christiansen, #55 Tyler Baker, #57 Matthew Marrier, #63 Chris Conway, #58 Juju Ayida, #56 Lloyd White, and #66 Caleb Bell providing enough protection for Rose, and creating room for our running backs to help us get crucial first downs and keep the ball out of the Venoms hands.

For the day the Ravens defense recorded three interceptions one each by Rose, O’Neal, and Urie, and had two fumble recoveries, one each by Jones and #17 LB Alex Bell. They also sacked the Venom quarterback 5 times.

Rose had the touchdown pass of 14 yards to Whitney, the 2pt. conversion pass to Williams and he scrambled for 40 yards on the ground while throwing for close to 200 yards. That along with spelling defensive players during the hot game Rose had the interception and sacked the quarterback of the Venom to show that the longtime Raven all-star defender can still play that side of the ball as well.

O’Neal had the two rushing touchdowns and rushed for 75 yards on the ground and contributed heavily on the defensive side of the ball with the one interception and 6 tackles.

RB #3 Akeem Williams ran the ball hard as well as RB/LB #23 Adam Gowans both gaining big yards and Williams caught a long Rose pass all the way down at the 3-yard line of the Venom. Williams biggest play of the game was running down a Venom defender who had intercepted the ball and was on his way for a touchdown showing the veteran Williams still has serious closing speed.

The 1-0 Ravens have a bye this coming week and play the next week-end Sat. August 3rd against the Rhode Island Riptide in Rhode Island while the 0-1 Venom travel to the CT. Gamblers.

For more information please visit the Raven website vermontravens.com of look for us on fb @ Vermont Ravens or Vermont Ravens fans.