Hartford High football had all the intangible qualities of a successful football team: focus, drive, chemistry and a leadership group that kept everyone on the same page. The Hurricanes were inherently talented, sure, with speed and deceptive running behind a strong offensive and defensive line. But in the end, it was that cohesiveness that made the ultimate difference.
No. 1 Hartford completed its undefeated season in Vermont high school play (10-0, 10-1 overall) with a 21-14 VPA Division I championship victory over No. 2 St. Johnsbury on Nov. 12 at Rutland High’s Alumni Field. It was the first state title for Hartford since 2012 and the first under third year head coach Matt Trombly.
But Trombly said after the championship win that the season didn’t feel like him finally putting his rubber stamp on the program or a way of implementing his message and his style of play into a three-year turnaround project. Hartford played the way it has always played, he said. Their game plan is no secret. This year’s team just did it more efficiently.
“Looking back to August, this has been a special group,” Trombly said on Nov. 12. “We had a lot of experience coming back from last year. This was a group that was different than a lot of the ones we’ve had. They were so cohesive. They enjoyed playing together. They enjoyed being together. They played for each other. To win this big one here, you have to have kids that play for each other. These kids, they truly do.”
No drama or nonsense was Hartford’s motto. It was rewarded, in the end, with another trophy for the case.
The Hurricanes were powered by its running back corps and the development of senior quarterback Gavin Farnsworth that gave Hartford’s offense the option to change pace.
Junior back Kody Rhodes led the Canes offensively, powering his way to 777 yards on 105 rushes and 10 touchdowns in 11 games. Juniors Tyler Hamilton and Hunter Perkins combined for 1,082 yards on 153 rushes and 13 touchdowns. Senior Brett MacLaren, last year’s rushing leader, took a secondary role with 58 rushes, 521 yards and eight TDs and sophomore Nick Porter made a name for himself with 45 rushes and 451 yards and seven scores.
Farnsworth finished the season 39-for-67 passing for 619 yards and eight touchdown passes. Hamilton was the senior quarterback’s favorite target, amassing 21 catches, 358 yards and four TDs.
“We played hard, we played to our potential,” Rhodes said on Nov. 12. “We all bonded well. It was a tight-knit family. That was what set us apart.”
The Hurricanes will have to replace plenty of talent next season, including Farnsworth, MacLaren, offensive linemen Matthew Lucke and Khant Thu and 12 other seniors. Trombly gave plenty of credit to the senior class for keeping Hartford on the same page this season, saying that a group like that is hard to replicate.
“This group of seniors we had was really special,” he said. “This is theirs. … This was their ultimate goal. I’m just lucky enough to be along for the ride.”
Josh Weinreb can be reached at jweinreb@vnews.com or 603-727-3306.