Redhawks tough it out in the rain

By Joe Cribari

Redhawks Tough It Out in the Rain

There was no joy in Hinesburg as the Champlain Valley Union High School Football Redhawks suffered their first loss of the season Saturday. The Bellows Free Academy – St.Albans Bobwhites flew into town for a late start game at CVU on a miserable, raw, rainy afternoon. The final score: 48-0 in favor of the Bobwhites.

The Redhawks had a rough start. A fumble on CVU’s return of the game’s opening kickoff was recovered by St. Albans. Four plays later and less than two minutes into the game, the Bobwhites scored.

There were shining moments on offense as Patrick Shea and Nick Ferrentino each escaped for a big run in the first half. Ferrentino had another big run late in the game. There was a huge 27-yard pass play from Drew Nick to Johnny Powers as the half drew to a close.

Nick threw for another twenty-seven yards in passes to Ryan Beaudry. Steele DeBrul took over as QB late in the game, scrambling for a few yards on a keeper.

The Redhawks defense was busy all afternoon. Rex McCoy, Ryan Fleming, Harvey Ottinger and Jake Loyer led tackling for the team, but Michael Fournier, Kyle Williams, Brendan Davitt, Quinn Kropf, Ross Harlow, Ryan Beaudry, Thomas Gallagher and Steele DeBrul got in for multiple tackles as well. Loyer’s touchdown-preventing tackle in the second quarter lead to a 4th down stuff by Fleming and Fournier four plays later – ending that drive for St. Albans.

This game was one that tests a team’s stamina, perseverance, valor and sportsmanship. The Redhawks exhibited all of these. CVU’s athletes held their heads high as they watched their defense struggle against a big offensive ground game, their offense battle an aggressive defense and their special teams face an opportunistic opponent.

There was no joy in Hinesburg, but there was no whining either. There were no cheap shots or complaints. There were, however, shouts of encouragement from the loyal CVU fans.

As each player engaged the man on the other side of the line in each contest down-by-down, there were cheers from teammates on the sideline, celebrating each success.

As the day waned, a win out of reach, a continuous stream of steady, soaking rain falling, the field a muddy mess, the Redhawks marched on play after play – continuing the fight.

“They had that ‘Never Say Die’ mentality to the very end,” JV A Head Coach Rahn Fleming said. “Kids like [Kyle] Williams coming in, trying to strip the ball and make things happen.”

The Redhawks are now tied at 4-1 with BFA-St. Albans and South Burlington. Two teams – Middlebury and Hartford – remain undefeated in Division I. CVU next travels to Bennington on Friday October 7, 2011 to face the 1-4 Mount Anthony Union High School Patriots. The game starts at 7:00 pm. Support from Redhawks fans will be welcome on this road trip.

Redhawks grind down Hilltoppers, 14-7

By Holly Fournier

The Redhawks held on to their undefeated record Saturday, outlasting the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers in a tight contest under damp, dreary conditions following a week that was anything but ordinary for the squad. Fans experienced a somewhat different lineup for CVU as injuries and illness either sidelined or weakened a number of key players. The entire CVU Redhawk family was also reeling from the sudden passing of Head Coach Jim Provost’s mom and the team’s #1 fan, Beatrice “Mimi” Provost, on Tuesday. Linebacker Michael Fournier remarked before kick-off, “If we can win this game, with everything that’s happened, then we have a good shot against anyone else.”

St. Johnsbury proved to be a formidable force for the Redhawks with a virtual stalemate on the offensive and defensive lines throughout four quarters of play. Said Linebacker Harvey Ottinger, “We knew they were going to be a good team, better than our other opponents, making it both a tough and emotional game.”

The Hilltoppers drew first blood late in the first quarter after a slippery ball led to a muffed CVU punt, allowing St. J to take over first and goal. Capitalizing on CVU’s misfortune, Lincoln Lemieux snuck in on a quarterback keeper for the touchdown and booted the extra point himself, putting the Redhawks down 7. That would be the last time the Hilltoppers were a threat.

CVU defensive demon Ryan Fleming intercepted St. J’s pass with just a minute left in the first half. The 6 foot, 205-pound linebacker ran 45 yards before being knocked out of bounds just shy of the goal line. A momentum shift was in the works.

Second half, new ball game as CVU dug deep and found their strength. A solid punt return to the 40-yard line by Tyson White led to stand-in quarterback Steele DuBrul’s pass over the middle to Johnny Powers. Next, Patrick Shea scrambled down the middle to set up a Redhawk first down, then DuBrul finished the job with a 48-yard touchdown pass to Trevor Kennedy. Tucker Kohlasch split the uprights with the extra point to tie the game, 7-7.

For DuBrul this was his first real test as CVU’s signal caller, having seen only late-game action in the Redhawks' previous contests. He got the job done. “Steele really stepped up and put in a great performance, considering he hadn’t played quarterback since Middle School,” said Kohlasch. Defensive lineman Ross Harlow agreed: “We knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but Steele came in and did a great job on the fly.”

The go-ahead TD for the Redhawks came with 4:13 on the clock after a key Kohlasch interception gave CVU possession. Three plays later Kennedy snagged a 51-yard pass from DuBrul out of St. J defender Lemieux’s hands for the score. Kohlasch’s kick for the extra point was good for a 14-7 lead.

With the clock winding down, right-man-in-the-right-place Kohlasch notched his second interception of the game, dashing the Hilltoppers’ hopes of forcing overtime. Said Kohlasch, “Finding out about Coach’s mom was definitely an emotional blow. She was a big fan, we felt we owed it to her to win. We made no excuses, just came out to play.” And play they did.

CVU’s powerful defense held St. J scoreless for three quarters behind the tough tackling of Fleming, Fournier and Ottinger who were responsible for more than 30 take-downs between them. Jake Loyer, Peter Wernhoff, Chad Hayden, Harlow and Brendan Davitt were other big contributors in holding the line and creating misery for the Hilltoppers.

After the game an emotional Coach Provost thanked his team for the victory, singling out DuBrul, John Keen, Davitt, Will Parent and Kennedy for stepping up and delivering when their number was called.

The Redhawks, now 4-0 on the season, face-off against 3-1 BFA St Albans on CVU home turf Saturday, October 1 at 3:00 pm. BFA St. Albans lost to Hartford in last year’s D-1 State Championship.

CVU gridiron gang pounds Essex, 49-21

By Mal Boright for the Williston Observer

After their spirited 49-21 victory on Sept. 16 at Essex High School, it is fitting that the next Division I test for the undefeated Champlain Valley Union football Redhawks will be on Saturday’s Spirit Day, when the 2-1 St. Johnsbury Academy Hilltoppers pay their initial visit to the Hinesburg pigskin foundry.

The Academy forces got crunched, 24-0, by BFA-St. Albans in their season opener, but then recovered with a 35-14 win at Burlington and last Saturday’s 46-6 romp over Spaulding.

In earning the school’s first victory in two appearances at the Essex field (a loss to the Hornets last year and defeat in the Division II title contest in 2009), the Redhawks took advantage of early Essex (0-3) turnovers to open a 28-0 lead by the early stages of the second quarter. The Hornets regrouped in the late stages of the second reel, but CVU got its mojo back after intermission to put the game away.

After the game, CVU head coach Jim Provost recalled an old Nashville tune when he mentioned his squad’s defense. “What’s that country song? Thunder gets all the credit but lightning does all the work? The defense creates opportunities and the offense taps them in,” he said.

The game was scoreless when the Redhawks’ Matt Bauer recovered an Essex fumble at the CVU 45 yard line after a Redhawks’ punt from deep in their own territory. With decent field position for the first time in three possessions, CVU rolled into paydirt in eight plays on a Nick Ferrentino plunge from five yards out. Quarterback Drew Nick’s 25-yard keeper was a key play in the drive. Nick finished the night with 97 yards on eight lugs.

CVU soon got the ball back when it recovered an Essex fumble at the Hornets’ 32. Nick passed to Ferrentino for 12 yards, and on the next play rolled out for a 20-yard touchdown. An incomplete pass for a two-point conversion left the score at 12-0 with 3:33 left in the first reel. A little more than a minute later, Ferrentino powered through the trenches for a 53-yard touchdown run. Nick passed to lanky end Ryan Beaudry for the two-point conversion and a 20-0 lead with 2:30 to go in the quarter.

For Ferrentino, his usual night at the office resulted in 231 yards on the ground, another 12 via a pass reception and four touchdowns. The night’s take boosted the junior halfback’s season marks to 10 touchdowns and 534 yards in three contests. “He doesn’t need much of a hole,” lineman/linebacker Quinn Kropf said of Ferrentino.

After CVU went up, 28-0, on a Nick to Brent Carreiro scoring pass early in the second stanza, Essex quarterback Jack Valley got the Hornets back in the contest with touchdown passes for five and 37 yards.

With CVU leading, 28-14, the Redhawks’ linebackers Ryan Fleming and Michael Fournier led a defensive comeback capped by Carreiro’s interception and 25-yard return. Ferrentino then scored on a six-yard scamper and Kohlasch booted the extra point for a 35-14 edge with 3:27 to go in the third reel. Ferrentino then loped 74 yards for his fourth touchdown on the last play of the quarter and Pat Shea (11 carries, 41 yards) scored on an 11-yard run in the final period.

The Redhawks assaulted the Essex defense for 369 rushing yards. CVU’s offensive created running room against a huge Hornets’ team that has four linemen weighing more than 250 pounds.

“They grown them big in Essex,” said Fleming after the game, adding that the coaches had the team well prepared for the contest. “This is Essex,” added Kropf. “We were pumped coming in.”

Redhawks finish off Hornets

By Joe Cribari

CVU’s undefeated football Redhawks visited Essex High school to face the winless Hornets on September 10, 2010. Fast forward a little over one year. CVU had an explosive quarterback-defensive back, a strong ground game led by one of Vermont’s leading running backs, a smoking defense and a wild crowd of fans in the bleachers then as they do now. That is where most of the similarities end, as the Redhawks took care of some unfinished business Friday night in Essex with a punishing six touchdown, 49-21 win over the Hornets.

The Redhawks established momentum early, scoring on their third possession on a 5-yard run by Nick Ferrentino. Numerous interruptions by penalty flags did not upset Big Red’s momentum, nor did chilly temps. Nor did facing the 2009 Division I State Champions. CVU came onto the field with a fierce determination that one could taste on the Redhawks side.

Ferrentino dazzled once again, this week with well over 200 yards rushing and three touchdowns – including a 53 yard run from scrimmage on the 1st down of the Redhawks 6th possession and a 74 yard run as the clock ran out on the third quarter. Number 22 also had a would-be 68-yard touchdown run negated by a penalty. The junior consistently breaks tackles and is a significant threat behind excellent blocking by the rest of the CVU’s offense.

Redhawks quarterback Drew Nick scored on a sneak from the 20-yard line after a beautiful faked handoff to #22. Nick connected with Brent Carreiro from the 9-yard line for another score. The balance of CVU’s points came from a 12-yard run by Patrick Shea late in the game, three extra point kicks by Tucker Kohlasch and a pair of two-point conversions – both pass plays from Nick to Ryan Beaudry.

Essex showed a bit of a rally in the second quarter after falling behind 28-0, scoring 14 unanswered points. Both touchdowns came on Jack Valley passes – first to Trevor Yandow, then Willie McSoley; Tyler Warren made the extra point kicks.

The Redhawks defense made this a tough night for the Hornets, holding the opposition to under 300 total yards. Essex QB Jack Valley was harried all night by the Red D. Ryan Fleming was constantly in his face with multiple defections and a sack. Bobby Russell got through for a sack. Brent Carreiro and Harvey Ottinger each had an interception. Quinn Kropf, Ross Harlow, Brendan Davitt, Matt Bauer, Drew Nick and especially Michael Fournier put a stop to almost anything the Hornets tried on offense. CVU’s defense forced the Hornets to turn over the ball five times.

Offense, defense and special teams all came through this evening for the ‘Hawks. Bauer recovered the ball on a CVU punt after it touched the foot of the receiver in the first quarter – the Redhawks scored six plays later.

CVU Fans Rock the Red on the Road – Take Two. It would be remiss not to mention the Redhawks fans – a massive body of screaming, chanting, cheering fans out in force showing colors. Words are difficult to find to relate not only the team’s performance this night, but also that of these fans. The noise from the Redhawks side was deafening.

Champlain Valley heads into week four undefeated – a status they now share with only Hartford and Middlebury in Division I. The Redhawks will host the 2-1 St. Johnsbury Academy Hilltoppers at on Saturday September 24, 2011. This is the first varsity meeting between these teams. It will also be Spirit Day at CVU. Kickoff is at 1:00 p.m.

Redhawks smash Colonels

By Joe Cribari

CVU’s varsity football team thrilled fans in their home opener with a 43-13 win over the Brattleboro Union High School Colonels on Saturday in Hinesburg. Nick Ferrentino, for the second consecutive game, rushed for over 130 yards and three touchdowns. Ferrentino’s spinning cuts kept would-be tacklers guessing, grasping and falling all day.

Ferrentino scampered for his first score behind the outstanding blocking of senior lineman Dylan Raymond. When asked about the Redhawks success in this game, Raymond summed it up in a word: Teamwork. “This is a team,” Raymond said, “we win when all eleven guys play like a team.”

“I get inspired when I see my brothers make a play – like when this guy (points to Ryan Fleming) gets a sack,” Raymond said. “I get pumped . . . and you reach down and find something inside of you”.

The rest of the Redhawks offense did just that. They all stepped up to pile up six touchdowns, a field goal and trouble for the Colonels. Quarterback Drew Nick ran in from the 2-yard line for a touchdown and connected with Brent Carriero from the 14 for another. Tucker Kohlasch kicked a 29-yard field goal in the 4th quarter. Patrick Shea once again shared the 2nd half rushing duties, racking up 60 yards and a score. The offensive line dominated, especially in the 2nd half as the Redhawks controlled the clock. Crucial lane-opening blocks came from all corners of the offense.

CVU’s defense was a force from the start. Michael Fournier had too many big tackles to list. Drew Nick (at defensive back) grabbed one of two CVU interceptions. Ryan Fleming was on fire once again and capped this effort in the 4th quarter with a crucial 3rd-down sack followed by a huge 4th-down hit on the Colonels quarterback, allowing Harvey Ottinger to get the second CVU pick of the game. Bobby Russell and Sammy Foutz came through with tackles.

The day was sunny and warm with a fairly stiff breeze. A moment of silence was observed in honor of those lost in the 9/11 attacks a decade ago. A beautiful rendition of the national anthem, sung by CVU alumnus Katie Parker, wafted over the grounds. Fans from both schools were pumped. The Redhawks cheerleading squad performed lively acrobatic cheers.

However, the game had a shaky start as neither offense could do much on their initial possessions. Both defenses were getting good pass rushing. Then, capitalizing on a CVU turnover, the Colonels finally managed to move the ball and scored first with a 16-yard Tyler Higley pass to Aaron Prue. Higley also threw for a 7-yard touchdown to Soren Pelz-Walsh late in the game, but not before the Redhawks had put up 36 unanswered points. The extra point kick was no good.

In the words of Dylan Raymond, “If we play to our full potential, we can go places in Division I.” The Redhawks will have their chance to do that next week when they travel to Essex High School to face the angry 0-2 Hornets in their home nest. The game is on Friday September 16, 2011 at 7:00 PM in Essex.

** Saturday’s game was marked by the presentation of $1,000 ($500 each from Friends of CVU and the Redhawks Football Boosters) to the Brattleboro Boys & Girls Club. The donations are for victims of the flooding during Tropical Storm Irene. The Football Boosters will also donate proceeds from the 50/50 Raffle to flood relief agencies, along with ten percent of the day’s concessions take.

CVU handles Burlington in 2011 season opener

By Joe Cribari

Champlain Valley Union High School’s football Redhawks made an impressive statement with a decisive, five touchdown, 34-0 victory over the Burlington High School Seahorses Friday night at Burlington. The Redhawks defense was almost perfect. This game was CVU’s first as a Division I team and their first ever meeting with the Seahorses as a varsity squad. BHS, although a smaller team with fewer upper classmen, is an established organization in Vermont high school football. The Seahorses have been in Division I since 2007.

Junior running back Nick Ferrentino drew first blood for the Redhawks with a dazzling fifty-one yard scramble late in the first quarter. Ferrentino helped grind down the clock, rushing for over 125 yards two additional scores for one and thirteen yards in the second and third quarters respectively.

Senior co-captain Drew Nick has handily taken over as starting quarterback this year. Drew passed for over 130 yards and one touchdown, connecting with senior running back Brent Carreiro in the first quarter. Nick also scored on his feet from the nine yard line on a QB sneak with two minutes remaining in the first half.

CVU linebacker and co-captain Ryan Fleming is showing strong leadership in his senior year. Fleming was everywhere – he was in on almost every defensive play. Burlington’s offense will remember number 74.

Tucker Kohlasch, now in only his second season playing football, has proved to be a vital addition to the team. The senior kicker not only hit four of five extra point attempts and nailed the ball deep on kickoffs, but is now a defense threat as well. This young man showed his mettle in his first football game ever last year scoring a two-point conversion. In Friday’s game Tucker pulled in two interceptions. Tucker does a lot more than kick. Fleming, coming off the field after one of those interceptions, expressed the general reaction, “I love this! Our kicker comes in at corner and intercepts the ball!”

“I have been practicing with [the defense] and coach put me in,” said Kohlasch. “I just wish I had started playing football younger,” he stated. Tucker is certainly making up for that lost time.

The 2011 Redhawks have some other familiar faces. Alec Distler, Dylan Raymond and co-captain Quinn Kropf are back anchoring CVU’s big offensive line. Matt Bauer, Ryan Beaudry and Johnny Powers are back – each increasing as a contributing factor on this Redhawks team that lost twenty three graduating seniors since last year.

Redhawks fans made a great showing as well on this balmy, beautiful evening and may have outnumbered home team fans. With the help of CVU’s cheerleading squad, a lot of noise poured from the Red side of the field. Shouts of “CHAMP-lain VAL-ly” and “CVU!, CVU!” created a din that neither the Burlington fans nor the announcer could penetrate.

Junior running back Patrick Shea pounded out over ninety yards, especially towards the end of the game as those Redhawks fans shouted out “SAY good-NI-ite” and sang the 60’s song “Na-Na-Na-Na . . . Na-Na- Na-Na . . . Hey, Hey-ey - Good bye.”

“This was a team effort,” stated a smiling Head Coach Jim Provost at the game’s end. Next week the Redhawks play their first home game of the season with a visit from Brattleboro High School. The game starts at 1:00 pm on Saturday September 10, 2011.

CVU soars past Burlington

Redhawks enter Division I ranks with 34-0 win over Seahorses

By Alex Abrami for the Burlington Free Press

At the start of preseason, lineman Ryan Fleming and his Champlain Valley Union High School teammates received new, play-calling wristbands. “It was big news to start the season,” Fleming said. “It was like, ‘Oh, we have a new offense?’” Yes, the Redhawks do.

Employing a no-huddle spread attack, one that has picked up steam across the state in recent years, CVU began its era in Division I against Burlington at Buck Hard Field on Friday night. The Redhawks passed the first test.

Nick Ferrentino racked up 138 rushing yards and three touchdowns, quarterback Drew Nick threw for 150 yards and the Redhawks used quick strikes in the first half to run past the Seahorses, 34-0, on the opening night of the Vermont high school football season. “It was a lot of fun for us. The offensive line was incredible — they gave me plenty of time. Our receivers did their job and that set up the runs real well,” said Nick, who also threw for a score and ran for another. “It was a fun night.”

After stalling on its first two possessions, CVU took advantage of Burlington turnovers, capitalizing for 14 points in a span of 78 seconds late in the first quarter. After nearly falling down near the line of scrimmage, Ferrentino raced for a 51-yard touchdown with 3:36 left, putting CVU up 7-0. Nick then hooked up with Brent Carreiro, who danced his way for a 19-yard TD, pushing CVU ahead 14-0.

CVU added two second-quarter scores — Ferrentino plunged in from 1 yard out with 6:57 left and Nick scampered for a 9-yard TD on a fourth-and-1 conversion. Fleming forced his way into Burlington’s backfield, part of a CVU defense that held in check a platoon of capable, speedy Seahorse running backs.

“They were doing a lot of pitch sweeps and we knew that was coming,” Fleming said. “As the outside backer, I was blitzing a lot and trying to stay to the outside and break it up before it got going.” Mistakes proved costly for a young BHS squad. “Being as thin and inexperienced as we are, we can’t have that. It just hurts,” Burlington coach Brennan Carney said. “We had some bright spots, but too many mistakes, too many guys out of place. ... We’ll get there.”

Ferrentino capped his big evening with a 13-yard TD run in the third quarter, the lone points in the second half. Patrick Shea complemented Ferrentino with 96 rushing yards, many coming on a clock-eating drive to close out the game.

CVU’s spread offense scored 34 points, but only one touchdown came via the pass, coach Jim Provost pointed. “That’s going to take a bit of time. We might be a pass first, run second team. But we’ll take whatever,” Provost said. “If we are successfully running the ball, we’ll take that. I like balance overall.“I wasn’t expecting this and I tell you what — I didn’t know what to expect.”