Windsor 13, Woodstock 7 (OT)
Fair Haven 46, Bellows Falls 20
St Johnsbury 33, Hartford 32
Saturday, November 11, 2017
Saturday, November 4, 2017
Finals Predictions
All three of the championship games should be great matchups just as the regular season games between these teams were. Bellows Falls fell short to Fair Haven by a score of 35-34 in the regular season, but coming off a surprising win over Burr & Burton in the semifinals, I have to give the edge to the Terriers as they look to repeat as champions. Woodstock and Windsor is a coin flip kind of game to me, but I am going with Woodstock in a nail-biter after Windsor beat them in overtime three weeks ago. This will be the 3rd time in 4 years that St Johnsbury and Hartford meet in the playoffs. In 2014, St Johnsbury blasted Hartford 40-0 in the quarterfinals and last year Hartford defeated St Johnsbury in the state championship by a score of 24-14. St Johnsbury narrowly beat Hartford 22-19 in Week 1 of the regular season and with both teams coming off impressive semifinal wins, it should be a great game. This is another game where I truly have no idea who is going to win, but my gut is telling me that it is finally time for St Johnsbury to break through and win the Division 1 state crown.
Division 1
#1 St Johnsbury 30, #2 Hartford 27
Division 2
#4 Bellows Falls 27, #2 Fair Haven 21
Division 3
#2 Woodstock 20, #1 Windsor 19
Division 1
#1 St Johnsbury 30, #2 Hartford 27
Division 2
#4 Bellows Falls 27, #2 Fair Haven 21
Division 3
#2 Woodstock 20, #1 Windsor 19
Saturday Semifinal Results
St Johnsbury was trailing BFA 9-7 in the 3rd quarter before reeling off 30 unanswered points to run away with a 37-9 victory. The Hilltoppers will put their undefeated record on the line one last time as they face Hartford in a rematch of last year's championship game.
Bellows Falls upset Burr & Burton again in the playoffs as they intercepted a pass at the one-yard line in the final minute to prevent the Bulldogs from having a chance to tie the game. The Terriers 22-16 win advanced them to the championship game where they will face Fair Haven, a team they lost to in a 35-34 thriller just a few weeks ago.
Windsor predictably hammered Springfield by score a score of 36-0. They move on to face Woodstock in what figures to be a great championship matchup.
Division 1
#1 St Johnsbury 37, #4 BFA-St Albans 9
Division 2
#4 Bellows Falls 22, #1 Burr & Burton 16
Division 3
#1 Windsor 36, #5 Springfield 0
Bellows Falls upset Burr & Burton again in the playoffs as they intercepted a pass at the one-yard line in the final minute to prevent the Bulldogs from having a chance to tie the game. The Terriers 22-16 win advanced them to the championship game where they will face Fair Haven, a team they lost to in a 35-34 thriller just a few weeks ago.
Windsor predictably hammered Springfield by score a score of 36-0. They move on to face Woodstock in what figures to be a great championship matchup.
Division 1
#1 St Johnsbury 37, #4 BFA-St Albans 9
Division 2
#4 Bellows Falls 22, #1 Burr & Burton 16
Division 3
#1 Windsor 36, #5 Springfield 0
Potential Realignment (after 2018 season)
While I feel that the divisions are generally well aligned, their are always going to be teams that will be discussed as potential options for changing divisions. I believe the divisions are "set" through next year, but it is always fun to look ahead. While I do not feel that any of these changes are necessary, they would be the changes I would consider most.
Division 1
The two programs that stick out to me as possible options for moving down are Rice and Brattleboro. Rice was highly successful in Division 2 with 4 state titles in 5 years (2010, 2012-14), before they were moved up to Division 1. Since the move they have only made one playoff appearance and have not won a playoff game. While Rice is able to attract some high quality athletes, having an enrollment of around 400 is a challenge when it comes to remaining competitive against the largest schools in the state. Brattleboro has only made one playoff appearance since 2006 and has no playoff victories since 1973. This year their only wins were against Division 2 foes Mt. Anthony (their rival who just moved down before the season) and Spaulding, a one-win team that they defeated by only one point.
Division 2
Burr & Burton has made the state championship game the past 3 years and with an enrollment larger than Hartford and Middlebury, they could be a program that could sustain success in Division 1. Otter Valley struggled through a winless season this year in their move back to Division 2. However, some may argue that between their enrollment and 3 straight trips to the Division 3 championship game (2014-16) that they are right where they should be.
Division 3
Due to their enrollment, Missisquoi will eventually be considered for moving up a division, but with one win in their first two varsity seasons, now is not the time to make that consideration. Woodstock and Windsor have had the talent to be competitive in Division 2, but their numbers suggest they are right where they should be.
Division 1
The two programs that stick out to me as possible options for moving down are Rice and Brattleboro. Rice was highly successful in Division 2 with 4 state titles in 5 years (2010, 2012-14), before they were moved up to Division 1. Since the move they have only made one playoff appearance and have not won a playoff game. While Rice is able to attract some high quality athletes, having an enrollment of around 400 is a challenge when it comes to remaining competitive against the largest schools in the state. Brattleboro has only made one playoff appearance since 2006 and has no playoff victories since 1973. This year their only wins were against Division 2 foes Mt. Anthony (their rival who just moved down before the season) and Spaulding, a one-win team that they defeated by only one point.
Division 2
Burr & Burton has made the state championship game the past 3 years and with an enrollment larger than Hartford and Middlebury, they could be a program that could sustain success in Division 1. Otter Valley struggled through a winless season this year in their move back to Division 2. However, some may argue that between their enrollment and 3 straight trips to the Division 3 championship game (2014-16) that they are right where they should be.
Division 3
Due to their enrollment, Missisquoi will eventually be considered for moving up a division, but with one win in their first two varsity seasons, now is not the time to make that consideration. Woodstock and Windsor have had the talent to be competitive in Division 2, but their numbers suggest they are right where they should be.
Friday Night Semifinal Results
The #2 seeds in all three divisions prevailed under the lights on Friday night. Hartford led 37-0 in the final minutes before Mt Mansfield scored a late touchdown to make the final score 37-8. Hartford will look to defend as Division 1 State Champions next week against the winner of the BFA-St Albans and St Johnsbury matchup. Woodstock is returning to the championship for the first time since 2013 after disposing of Mill River by a score of 36-6. Woodstock is expected to face undefeated Windsor in a highly anticipated rematch of their Week 8 game which resulted in a 12-9 overtime victory for Windsor.
Fair Haven and Milton squared off in the only thriller on Friday night. Fair Haven scored the first 19 points of the game and appeared to be in the drivers seat until the Yellow Jackets responded with 22 unanswered points. The Slaters reclaimed their lead before the half and went into the locker room with a 25-22 lead. Fair Haven extended its lead again to 32-22 in the 3rd quarter before Milton responded later in the period to cut the lead to 32-30. The Slaters tacked on another touchdown early in the 4th quarter and held their lead the rest of the way to escape with a 39-30 victory. Fair Haven will be making their first finals appearance since 2014 and will be looking to secure their first state championship since 2011 against either Burr & Burton or Bellows Falls.
Division 1
#2 Hartford 37, #6 Mt Mansfield 8
Division 2
#2 Fair Haven 39, #3 Milton 30
Division 3
#2 Woodstock 36, #3 Mill River 6
Fair Haven and Milton squared off in the only thriller on Friday night. Fair Haven scored the first 19 points of the game and appeared to be in the drivers seat until the Yellow Jackets responded with 22 unanswered points. The Slaters reclaimed their lead before the half and went into the locker room with a 25-22 lead. Fair Haven extended its lead again to 32-22 in the 3rd quarter before Milton responded later in the period to cut the lead to 32-30. The Slaters tacked on another touchdown early in the 4th quarter and held their lead the rest of the way to escape with a 39-30 victory. Fair Haven will be making their first finals appearance since 2014 and will be looking to secure their first state championship since 2011 against either Burr & Burton or Bellows Falls.
Division 1
#2 Hartford 37, #6 Mt Mansfield 8
Division 2
#2 Fair Haven 39, #3 Milton 30
Division 3
#2 Woodstock 36, #3 Mill River 6
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