Rutland
Windsor intercepted Otter Valley quarterback Tyler Rowe five times — including twice in the end zone early in the game to thwart deep Otters’ drives — sparking a 42-6 rout at Rutland High’s Alumni Field and capping a perfect year for the top-ranked Jacks (11-0).
It’s the first undefeated season in the Vermont Principals Association era for Windsor, whose seniors were in third grade the last time it was in position to clinch one. Many were Windsor Pee Wee players and on hand at Brattleboro Union High when the Yellowjackets fumbled multiple times inside the Poultney 10-yard line and the Blue Devils pulled off the upset in 2007.
“We were pretty young then, but who could forget it?” Windsor junior Jake Tucker said. “It’s amazing to think we were back here now and finished the job.”
Senior Hunter Patenaude had four touchdowns, including scores on all three of his receptions for 99 yards. Hunter Judd rushed for a season-high 170 yards and practically sealed the win when he responded to Otter Valley’s lone touchdown with an 85-yard return for a touchdown on the ensuing kickoff late in the second quarter, making it 28-6.
Windsor cruised in the second half, twice more intercepting Rowe (24-for-38, 233 yards) and strip-sacking the sophomore to finish with six takeaways.
Five different players coralled interceptions — Seth Balch, Zach McLeod, Ben Meagher, Patenaude and Ryland Richardson. Caleb Harrington fell on the fumble recovery during the fourth-quarter strip sack.
“We have a team of 11 leaders out on the field at all times,” fourth-year Windsor coach Greg Balch said. “No matter what we do, there are 11 athletes working as a unit, and I think that’s what put us over the top. They don’t care who’s scoring the touchdowns, who’s talking to reporters. They’re interested in winning, and I think that’s what you saw today.”
Otter Valley (No. 3; 8-3), the 2015 champion, entered with a vaunted passing offense, especially after Rowe passed for nearly 400 yards and the Otters won at powerful Woodstock in the semis.
Rowe started the season as the backup to Otters senior Colby McKay. He entered in the second half of a 55-13 loss at Windsor in Week 4 and has remained under center ever since.
The Yellowjackets themselves have been no slouch through the air this season, as QB Seth Balch finished with 901 passing yards and 18 touchdowns.
They used the run to set up the pass on their first drive on Saturday, rushing five times before Balch found Patenaude over the middle in stride for a 66-yard scoring play to make it 6-0.
Rowe responded with a 51-yard pass to Tyson Cram to the Windsor 7-yard line, but Balch, who doubles as a defensive back, nabbed the Jacks’ first pick after Rowe’s pass was a tipped to him by Dakota Page in the end zone.
Windsor drove 80 yards after the touchback, reaching the Otters’ 10-yard line before netting no yards on three plays.
The Yellowjacks went for it on fourth-and-10 rather than attempt a 27-yard field goal into the wind, and the move paid off when Patenaude leaped to bring down Balch’s throw through double coverage in the back of the end zone. Balch found Page for the 2-point conversion to make it 14-0.
“Patenaude, I believe, is the best player in Division III,” Greg Balch said of a player who finished with eight receiving touchdowns and another 11 on the ground. “He’s been making plays like that all year.”
More mistakes hindered Otter Valley at the end of its next drive. Otters receiver William Ross (nine receptions, 65 yards) shook off a Balch tackle and ran untouched the rest of the way for a would-be 35-yard score, but a block in the back against Otter Valley rendered it just a 5-yard gain. Two plays later came McLeod’s pick and another touchback for Windsor’s offense.
“Red-zone turnovers are going to hurt you, but you have to credit Windsor for making plays,” said Otter Valley coach Jim Hill, whose team overcame a rash of injuries and replaced four of five starting offensive linemen from last year in reaching the final. “I don’t think either of those were bad decisions (by Rowe).”
Patenaude broke down the left sideline for a 54-yard rushing score later in the quarter, and the Otters responded with their lone scoring drive. Rowe was 4-for-5 during the march, capped by Collin Parker’s 7-yard scamper to make it 20-6.
Then came Judd’s dagger of a return, finding a hole on the right side of coverage and exploding to the left sideline for the score 1:03 before halftime.
“That was the play of the game, just a huge play by Hunter at the end of the half,” Greg Balch said. “Otter Valley makes it 20-6, and you never know how momentum is going to go from there.”
Seth Balch and Patenaude connected for a third touchdown to start the second half, this time for 23 yards. After Meagher’s juggling interception, the Yellowjackets put it away with a 60-yard march ending with Judd’s 14-yard rush to the left.
It’s Windsor’s first undefeated season since going 9-0 in 1969, a year before state champions were officially crowned.
“It means a tremendous amount. It means we worked harder than every team we played,” Greg Balch said. “To find a way to close out every single game during a season is pretty special.”
Extra Points: Seth Balch went 0-for-2 on PATs and the Yellowjackets were 3-for-4 on 2-point conversions. … Including penalties, Otter Valley unofficially outgained Windsor 328-324. Before penalties, the Jacks held a 349-340 edge in total yards. … Otter Valley totaled 18 first downs, Windsor 16. … Injured running back Trevor Worrall (knee) watched the game from a wheelchair on the sideline. A junior and the Jacks’ leading rusher when he was hurt in late September, Worrall had surgery Thursday to repair a torn ACL and meniscus. … Windsor Athletic Director Jim Taft was the Yellowjackets’ coach the last time they started 10-0. Asked how his hard-hitting 2007 unit might fare against this year’s Jacks, Taft wouldn’t bite. “I don’t know,” he grinned. “It would sure be a good game.”
Jared Pendak can be reached at jpendak@vnews.com or 603-727-3225.