The South continued its dominance of the Vermont Senior Bowl last Saturday, rolling to a 54-19 over the North in the 15th edition of the all-star football game at Middlebury College's Youngman Field.
Rutland's Andy Kenosh and Fair Haven's Ryan Alexander combined for 21 completions on 49 passes for the South, which won its fourth Senior Bowl in the last five years and has a 9-6 edge over the North in the series.
The game plan for the South was throw the ball early, then finish on the ground. With two good quarterbacks and a wealth of talented receivers, it was a strategy that worked very well. Alexander threw four touchdown passes, Kenosh threw for three touchdowns, and Rutland's Cam Slade had a pair of touchdown receptions, while Rutland's Caleb White ran for 80 yards and a touchdown.
Brattleboro's Taylor King had a big day on defense with a pair of interceptions, while his teammate, linebacker Aleks Harrison, had six tackles. The North committed four turnovers in all, all interceptions, compared to one for the South.
Bellows Falls, the runner-up in Division II, sent cornerback Nathan Fairbrother, offensive tackle Devin Hogan, running back Chris McKeen, quarterback Zac Streeter, and offensive guard Tyson Taylor to the game.
Nine area runners earn MVL honors
• The Brattleboro boys' cross-country team, which finished fifth overall in Division I at the state meet, had four of its runners selected to the Marble Valley League Division A all-star team.
Isaac Freitas-Eagan led the way for the Colonels. He finished 197th overall at the 81st New England Cross-Country Championships run at Thetford Academy on Nov. 14. He covered the 5-kilometer course in 18 minutes, 36 seconds.
Teammate Josh Meachen, who was 203rd in 18:39 in the New England meet, also made the all-star team, as did Jonah Koch and Colin Costa-Walsh.
For the Colonel girls, Sarah Gallagher, who finished 20th at the state meet, joined Liz Morse and Emilia Dick-Flora on the A Division first team.
Bellows Falls was represented by Cody Tallent and Lia Clark, both of whom had top-10 finishes in Division II, were selected to the B Division first team.
State asks hunters for help in collecting deer data
• The 16-day rifle deer season began on Nov. 14, and the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is asking for help from hunters to gather biological data on the health of the state's deer herd.
Hunters who get a deer during rifle season, which ends on Nov. 29, are being asked to provide an incisor tooth from their deer when they go to a reporting station.
According to the department, biologists will use the teeth to evaluate regional differences in ages and antler characteristics of bucks, as well as to help estimate population size, growth rate, health, and mortality rates. Each tooth will be cross-sectioned to accurately determine the deer's age, and the results will be posted on the Fish & Wildlife website next spring.
Instructions on removing the tooth will be posted at reporting stations, and a video showing how will be available on Fish & Wildlife's website at www.vtfishandwildlife.com. Hunters who submit a deer tooth will entered into a drawing to win one of five Cabelas gift cards.
Fish & Wildlife estimates the size of the Vermont deer herd heading into rifle season at about 120,000, with the most deer in the northwestern and southwestern sections of the state.
Getting ready for snowmobile season
• The ground is still bare and temperatures are still in the 50s, but winter will be coming and local snowmobile clubs are getting ready for the 2015-16 season.
The Wardsboro Pathfinders Snowmobile Club says they have TMA's (trail maintenance assessments) now available for sale online, and that they are now busy with trail maintenance and repair.
Online TMA sales are now available at www.WardsboroPathfinders.com. If you're a current member, simply log in and your sled details pop up on screen. Review them, make changes (such as adding or removing a sled), and pay by credit card. Your TMA will be mailed to you within days.
Trail maintenance on the 710 trail began last month. Projects include the repair of the Stocker Farm bridge, building a few bog bridges near Whites Road, and installing railings on a bridge past the gravel pit heading towards C7. Club members say the 710 is in great shape for the upcoming season.
The Abenaqui Snowmobile Club, who is responsible for all the trails in the towns of Rockingham and Athens, is looking for volunteers.
Trails Master George Berube said the club is in need of a major resurgence of volunteers to stay operational. Their club, like most around Vermont, relies heavily on volunteers to maintain the trail system through maintenance, landowner relations, and grooming. For more information, contact Berube at 802-869-2593.
State parks offer holiday gift packages
• Vermont's state parks are offering limited edition gift packages that come attractively wrapped and ready to give. Shipping is free and they are easy to order online.
Gift certificates, punch cards, season passes, stoneware pint glasses, hooded sweatshirts, T-shirts, and more can also be ordered online at www.vtstateparks.com.
The Day Tripper Package includes a punch card good for 10 state park day visits, a state parks hat, a gift card for one hour boat rental, and a state parks tote bag to keep it all in for $59.
The Weekend Getaway Package includes two nights of tent, RV or lean-to camping, two VT State Parks classic Happy Camper enamel mugs, a picnic tablecloth, a gift card for an armload of firewood, a deck of playing cards, and a state parks tote bag for $89.
The Full Season of Family Fun Gift Package includes a Vehicle Season Pass that provides unlimited day entry into any state park in Vermont, all season long for up to 8 people per visit, two state parks water bottles, two gift cards for a one-hour boat rental, an “Explore” beach towel, one deck of playing cards, and a state parks tote bag for $139.
Besides online shopping, you can also order by phone by calling 888-409-7549, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Mondays through Fridays.