News
Vermont Pulls Out Late Win
By Pete Chalfin, CollClub Sports.comDecember 02, 2009
The first ever NCFA-sanctioned collegiate club football game lived up to the hype,
as the University of Vermont Catamounts defeated their rival Black Bears
from the University
of Maine 21-20 in a nail-biter
on November 7. In true rivalry game style, the UVM and UMaine club football teams
fought until the end and, with the deciding score coming on a one-yard
touchdown run by UVM's running back and club president Doug DeLuca in his final
game.
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The Black Bears came out firing and would take
the opening drive deep into UVM territory but a missed 30-yard field goal
attempt by Dustin Snow kept the game scoreless. Maine
put together another solid drive in their second possession but ended up
turning the ball over on downs at the Vermont
28 yard line.
After UVM went three-and-out, the Black Bears
started at their own 38 yard line to begin the second quarter in a scoreless
tie. UM would drive 62 yards on 5 plays including a 27-yard pass from
quarterback Brett Davison to tight end Steve McGuire and an 18-yard run by
running back John Goulette. Goulette then capped off the drive with a four yard
touchdown run to put Maine
ahead 7-0.
The Catamounts answered immediately, returning
the kickoff to their own 45 yard-line. They continued to march right down the
field, with quarterback Korey Johnson punching it in from the one to tie the
game at seven. Not wanting to give the ball back to Maine, UVM successfully executed an onside
kick and had the ball again. Josh Henshaw would attempt a 54 yard field goal on
the drive but was well short, and the teams entered the locker room tied at
seven.
Both teams began the second half with a
three-and-out, but after a muffed punt by the Catamounts allowed the Black
Bears to recover at the UVM 23-yard line. Two plays later, Davison would connect
with tight end David Searle for a 23-yard touchdown. A missed extra point made
the score 13-7. Vermont responded yet again behind
a nice 44-yard run by DeLuca to set Vermont
up in scoring position at the 26 yard line. However, just two plays later,
Korey Johnson's fumble was recovered by UMaine linebacker Jeff Langenheim and
the threat was ended.
In the fourth quarter, the Bears reached the Vermont six yardline, but an Unsportsmanlike Conduct
penalty on overexcited Maine
coach Eric Whitman pushed the Bears back. The penalty proved to be costly as
Snow missed a 37-yard field goal attempt. Later in the quarter, Maine linebacker Jordan Sweird recovered a UVM fumble at
the Vermont
24- yard line to set up another Davison- to-Searle touchdown pass. The extra
point gave Maine
a comfortable 20-7 lead with just over three minutes to go in the game. But
once again, Vermont
found a way to answer.
Vermont began their
drive near midfield after a personal foul penalty on Maine. Korey Johnson then connected with
Connor O'Grady for a 52-yard score off a tipped ball.
With the score now 20-14, the Black Bears would
recover a UVM squibb kick at their own 42-yard line, but another costly penalty
would back them up to the 22 with just 1:37 to go. Appearing to be on their way
to their 6th victory on the season, disaster struck for UMaine. After a kneel
down on first down, fullback Eric Bezanson fumbled the ball on second down, and
Vermont caught the break they needed by recovering on the 25 yard line.
Vermont
managed to march the necessary 25-yards, capped off by DeLuca's game winning
score. The extra point by Kenshaw would be the final point that won the game
for the Catamounts, 21- 20. The NCFA could not have asked for a more exciting
finish in the league’s first game.