News
UVM vs. CDFL, September 20th
By Sarah CoonSeptember 28, 2009
The UVM Catamount football team and
their growing band of faithful followers convened on yet another absolutely
gorgeous early autumn afternoon for a game of football. After the game
scheduled for the previous week was unexpectedly cancelled by Endicott College,
the Catamounts were well rested and eager to meet their Collegiate Development
Football League opponent.
The game began with the CDFL Elite
receiving UVM’s kickoff and then proceeding to move the chains, scoring on their
first possession with a 22 yard pass from quarterback Anthony Carillo to receiver
Willie Calhoun. In a defensive surge indicative of the energy and voracity that
the Catamounts played with all afternoon, UVM pushed forward on the extra point
attempt, smothering CDFL kicker Lawrence Coe’s extra point attempt. The ball,
tumbling free, was promptly snatched by UVM defenseman Marc Bucklin, who
scampered his way to the 35 yard line before being brought down. After
receiving the Elite’s kickoff, UVM’s offense finally got their hands on the
ball. Their strong running game brought the Cats into the CDFL red-zone on
impressive carries by both running back Tom Jackson and quarterback Korey
Johnson, and after converting a third-and-two situation on the three yard line,
Johnson took the ball in from the one, putting six points on the board for UVM.
With a successful extra point kick by Josh Henshaw, the Catamounts pulled
ahead, 7-6. UVM was forced to defend their lead on the Elite’s very next play
from scrimmage, forcing a fumble in the end zone after a 68 yard catch-and-run
by Kevin Malivert. The Catamount offense returned to the field once again, and
continued to run the ball well, stringing together several first downs before
UVM running back Tom Jackson came up lame, and was unable to return to the fray
that day. Consecutive UVM fumbles then forced the Catamounts to punt, and the
first quarter ended without any further excitement.
UVM opened the second quarter with a
strong defense, and quickly regained possession of the ball after a mighty and
well-timed third down pass rush by Amos Kempton. However, the offense was
unable to take advantage of good field position and turned the ball back over
to the CDFL on a failed fourth-and-one attempt. Once again, however, the
Catamount defense lit up, this time in the form of an interception and 35 yard
run by James Jarvis. This put the ball back in Catamount hands on the Elite 20
yard line with 9:30 left to play in the half. After gaining a first down the
Catamounts found themselves at first and goal, but were stymied by the CDFL
defense and ultimately failed a fourth down field goal attempt. The Elite
offense was unable to make any headway as well, and the ball returned once
again to the UVM offense. Not to be denied a score, the Catamounts put together
another drive. The running of Brett Rosenberg, Doug DeLuca and Ted Day-Fratto
brought UVM to the CDFL 23 yard line, where they again attempted a fourth down
field goal. Henshaw’s kick this time flew straight and true, putting an extra
three points on the board for the Catamounts before the half and bringing the
score to UVM 10, CDFL 6.
The UVM defense continued to play
well as the second half got underway, holding the Elite to under 75 yards of
offense for the entire second half. UVM freshman Sam Chalek led the defensive
backs, breaking up numerous passes and making several near-interceptions. UVM
sophomores Luke Martin and Jeff Ulsh also played an excellent game, stuffing
the offense and consistently making tackles.
The Elite offense got inside UVM’s red zone just once, and was forced to
make a field goal attempt on fourth down. Coe’s kick, however, was smothered by
Ulsh and the Catamount defense, returning the ball to UVM’s offense once again.
A 65 yard run by UVM quarterback Johnson set up the Cats for another field goal,
this one a 33 yarder for another three points that brought the score to 13-6. On
the next UVM possession, however, the CDFL defense stepped up once again,
forcing the Catamounts to punt and then returning the punt 75 yards for a
second touchdown score in the last seconds of the third quarter. Rather than
kicking the extra point and risking yet another blocked kick, the CDFL Elite
opted for a two-point conversion, and made good on a quick pass from quarter
back Colin Doyle to Calhoun, bringing the score to CDFL 14, UVM 13. This would
prove to be the final score, as UVM tried valiantly to get back into scoring
range but was thwarted by good defensive play by the Elite, including a key
interception that sealed the game.
While the UVM Catamounts move to 0-3,
they look forward to playing the Endicott College Gulls for Homecoming weekend.
The game starts at 1:30 pm on Sunday, October 4th at Burlington High
School, and not only is it parent’s weekend, but it is also the Catamount’s
last scheduled home game of the season. Please join us for what is sure to be an
exciting day of football!