Cameron Fitzgerald (56) heads towards the goal line after a Milton fumble. Dana Adams photo.

Redhawks Defense Shuts Out Yellowjackets

By Joe Cribari

CVU's varsity football Redhawks took one step further towards postseason play Friday evening at Milton High School with a decisive 21-0 win over the Yellowjackets. This was another big victory for the Redhawks, as Milton had shut out CVU last season.

“It was a complete team effort. Everyone played well. Every player contributed,” Redhawks Head Coach Jim Provost said of his team. “Milton gave us a battle, but we scored early and were able to hold on.”

The Redhawks offense performed superbly, controlling the pace and hogging the ball with a 168-yard ground game that left Milton little opportunity to get anything going.

Quarterback Konnor Fleming set the tone early – on the first play of the game. Taking advantage of great blocking on the left side, especially by Alec Distler, Fleming flew 54 yards for a touchdown on a keeper. Tucker Kolasch kicked the extra point, and 23 seconds into the game, CVU was up 7-0.

The Redhawks second score came at the end of a 13-play drive that ate up much of the first half. Derek Goodwin rushed in untouched from the five yard line between linemen Mike Cribari and Crawford Morris. Kolasch kicked another extra point to make the score 14-0.

J.P. Benoit’s 30-yard pass reception in the end zone early in the third quarter provided the final Redhawks touchdown on the evening. This was a beautiful effort by J.P., pulling in the ball despite tight double coverage by Milton. Konnor Fleming’s efforts cannot be overlooked on this score. The Redhawks quarterback first cut right; then left; then tossed the ball to Benoit on the run while Yellowjackets defenders ran him down. Kolasch once again came through with the extra point kick that put CVU up 21-0.

Goodwin led the Redhawks rushing 17 times for 83 yards and a touchdown. Benoit led in receiving with his 30-yard touchdown reception.

The Redhawks crushing defense was the other side of this story. It was apparent on Milton’s first possession that the Yellowjackets were in trouble, as Crawford Morris sacked Milton quarterback Brandon Beliveau on first down. Three plays later, Derek Goodwin intercepted a Beliveau pass. CVU’s defense prevented the Yellowjackets from getting a first down on their next two possessions.

The second half was no easier for Milton. The Yellowjackets went three and out on their first possession – their next two ended in turnovers. Milton had one long second half drive and threatened on CVU’s 12 yard line. However, on a fourth and five quarterback sneak, Konnor Fleming (at linebacker) stuffed the QB, ending the threat.

Cameron Fitzgerald led the Redhawks in tackling with seven; Fitzgerald also recovered a fumble. Crawford Morris and Derek Goodwin each had an interception. Morris had four tackles, plus a sack for a seven yard loss. Ryan Fleming had six tackles and a sack for a seven yard loss.

Eric Palmer, who had five and a half tackles, three and a half assists and a sack shared with Tyler Barnes, was a force in this game as always. On playing defensive end in this game? “It’ s easy; I don’ t have to think – I just go after the guy with the ball,” joked Palmer, typically a linebacker, who indeed makes it look easy to the rest of us. “It feels good,” Palmer said, “especially against Milton - we needed the win.”

“We’ re in a pretty good position, but we have one more game,” Coach Provost reminds us. The Redhawks’ final regular season game is at CVU on Saturday, October 30, 2010 at 1:00 against U-32 High School – this will be Senior Day. U-32 beat CVU in the playoffs in 2005.