Eleventh Season 2007-2017

Norwich University – Sabine Field

9/24/17

Kick-off 5:00PM

Staff Report

PLAY-OFFS - New England Football League, Quarter-Finals

5^th South Shore Chiefs - 6

4^th Vermont Ravens - 30

The Vermont Ravens defeated the South Shore Chiefs 30-6 Sunday evening winning their quarter-final play-off game. 

It was an unseasonably hot and muggy Sunday evening for this time of year and both teams consumed gallons of water to try to stay ahead of cramping and for the most part they succeeded.

If a few players from the Ravens did suffer cramps it would certainly be understandable.  To start things off there was Vermont’s starting quarterback #14 Clayton Torres completing a pass of 41 yards to receiver #81 Sean Lamphere who caught it on the Chiefs one-yard line.  The pass, which was tipped, showed Lamphere snatch the ball out of the air while backing into the end zone for the first score of the game at the 10:19 mark of the second quarter.

Raven running back #21 Anthony LaRosa rushed for the successful two-point conversion attempt and the score was 8-0 Ravens.  This was the proverbial tip of the ice berg regarding LaRosa and the end zone.  He would go on to score two more touchdowns on runs of 3 and 42 yards both in the fourth quarter, the first one at the 11:51 mark and second at 4:29.  He also broke another long run for a touchdown in the third quarter, but it was called back due to a Raven penalty.  On the evening Vermont Co-Captain Anthony LaRosa ran for 128 yards and accounted for 14 of the Ravens 30 total points.

Of course, any successful running back must give thanks to his very effective offensive line consisting of center Paul-Dan Winters, guards Bradley Durkee, and Curtis Christiansen, and tackles Tyler Baker and Kevin Keeling.  Reserve lineman Bryan Brunner contributed well as he gave breaks to the starters as the hot and humid night lingered.

Raven quarterback #7 Kenny Phillips II, who had replaced Torres, ran for both two-point conversions that were attempted following LaRosa’s scores.

Raven receiver/kick returner #4 Jaren Jeffcoat had a 35-yard kick-off return and he won a jump ball on a pass from Phillips that traveled 35 yards helping Vermont to a first down and moving the ball down to the Chiefs 20-yard line.

Vermont’s defense allowed one score on the day.  With the Chiefs knocking on the door at the Raven 11-yard line Chiefs quarterback #4 Roy Dickerson tossed a nice pass over a Raven defender and into the hands of a leaping Chiefs receiver #26 Jordan Johnson and he came down with it for the score.  The two-point conversion attempt failed and the score after three quarters was 14-6 Ravens.

The secondary for Vermont had a good game overall grabbing 5 interceptions.  Defensive back #23 Adam Gowans had three, one of which was returned 86 yards for a touchdown to end the first half on a high note for the Ravens.  His second was returned 52 yards down to the Chiefs 9-yard line where he was forced out of bounds, and with the 3^rd Gowans outjumped the receiver to come away with the pass.  No return as he was tackled immediately.  He also finished with 8 tackles, 4 of them solo to help lead the stingy defense. 

Free safety #31 Jeric Tyler had two interceptions, the first caught on the 5-yard line and returned 30 yards to stop a Chief threat, and the second was a nicely timed jump and catch going horizontal and crossing in front of the receiver to snatch the pass away.  No return as he was touched down by a Chief receiver at the Raven 20-yard line upon landing.

Strong safety/fullback #20 Roy Rose caught a swing pass from Torres good for 12 yards and contributed 7 tackles, 2 of them solo on defense.  He was a thorn in the side of the Chief offensive line with perfectly timed blitzes which kept the Chief quarterback uncomfortable forcing numerous hurries.

Outside linebacker #33 Larry LaBrecque Jr. who also plays the up-back on the punt return, returned a short punt 14 yards down to the Chiefs 11-yard line and on defense had 8 tackles, 3 solo. 

The Ravens now move on to play in the semi-finals against the 3^rd seed Mass State Warriors next Saturday night, Sept. 30, 7:00PM kick-off, at Wayland High School, Wayland, Ma.

For more information visit www.vermontravens.com or www.facebook.com/VTRavensfans