Vermont football fans should be familiar with the gameplan Mike Hatt will use in Saturday’s Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl. It’s pretty much the same game plan Vermont uses every summer: Open up the offense and hope to outscore New Hampshire.
“We’re gonna have to score to win,” Hatt said. “It’s not gonna be a 10-7 game.”
Vermont may have the weapons to win a shootout this year, starting with quarterback Grant White, who holds the Springfield High School record for career touchdown passes (52). White helped a Hatt-coached Springfield team cap an 11-0 season with a victory in the Division III championship game last season. He completed 109 of 165 pass attempts for 1,821 yards and 26 touchdowns last fall. He also ran the ball 103 times for 466 yards and 16 TDs.
He’ll be throwing to a receiving corps that includes Rutland’s Mark Comstock, Spaulding’s James Durham, Mill River’s Allen White and South Burlington’s Adam Farmer. Hartford running back Mick Wong, Vermont’s Gatorade Player of the Year, was limited in practice because of a bruised shoulder, but is expected play.
“We did a really good job of selecting our skill kids,” Hatt said. “We’re gonna throw to set up the run. We will throw the ball.”
Saturday’s game will be played at Windsor High School. Vermont, which will be seeking its first victory since 2000, trails the series 40-13-2.
White will test a New Hampshire secondary that features Bishop Guertin’s Andy Vailas, Exeter’s Andrew Kukesh, Manchester Central’s Jake Tremblay and Dover’s Tyler Long.
“I obviously feel if our defense is effective that’s a huge key to the game,” New Hampshire coach Greg Husband said. “They run a lot of traps, a lot of option. They also throw a lot of quick passes.
“If you look at their offensive formations they’re all spread formations. They selected all speed, so clearly they want to try and get us in space. We’re confident in the kids we have and the scheme we have.”
Saturday’s contest will be a homecoming game for Husband, who graduated from Windsor High School. Husband guided Franklin to the Division VI championship last season. Vailas will be New Hampshire’s only two-way starter. He’ll also start at quarterback. Vailas is a capable passer, but is perhaps best known for his elusiveness and running ability. He was the key player for a Bishop Guertin team that beat Exeter in last year’s Division II championship game.
Keene tailback Ray Boulay and Pinkerton Academy fullback Chris George are among New Hampshire other’s offensive threats.
The New Hampshire roster does not have a player from Nashua South, the team that won the Division I title last fall.
Vermont lost last year’s game 42-0 and has failed to score more than seven points in five of the last eight contests.
“We’re gonna have to stop the run obviously,” Hatt said. “We have to come up with some (defensive) stops. “Can we stop New Hampshire and can we protect Grant? That’s what it’s gonna come down to.”
