Sports Central

Big game, part 2

Here we go again, and isn't it great.

U-32 and Spaulding will snap it again on Saturday with even more on the line than the game two weeks ago. Two weeks ago U-32 was trying to climb back atop the Division II pile while Spaulding was trying to continue an unbeaten season.

The end result was a 47-34 U-32 victory and, a week later after another U-32 loss, the second (Spaulding) and third (U-32) seeds for the budding cross-county rivalry.

Even while U-32, and before that Montpelier, were winning state championships there was something missing from the equation. Something that kept football games from becoming the talk of the town on Friday's and then again on Mondays. The something missing was a strong rivalry between area teams, a USC-UCLA like matchup to highlight the regular season. More often one team was up a little, and the others were down. The crowd at "U-32 vs. Spaulding 1" was as good as it has been in quite a while and Saturday's rematch could be even better.

Perhaps the best aspect of the games is that there seems to be a great deal of respect between the two coaching staffs and between the players. U-32 head coach Mike Law coached for several years at Spaulding where current Spaulding defensive coordinator Tom Sedore worked with him. Spaulding head coach Brennan Carney was coached by Law while in high school at Grady Vigneau's All-Star football camp, and Carney noted that at "1" the players started shaking hands even before the final whistle blew.

With both U-32 and Spaulding in Division II it will be hard for Division III Montpelier to join the rivalry, but the perfect picture is a competitive Montpelier program joining the other two programs.

Pete Hartt

 

   

writing tough stuff

Tomorrow marks the second story in as many days about U-32 quarterback Ethan Sylvain after the senior was arrested and cited for possession this past weekend.
The Raiders will be without Sylvain for Saturday's playoff game at Spaulding - a growing rivalry of sorts in the area with both teams enjoying tremendous success this year - but U-32 has been grooming junior backup QB Lucas Hadden, who, I assume, will be at the helm on Saturday. Not a bad second fiddle - the kid's a state champion javelin thrower, and he has proven himself in the Oct. 20 defeat of Spaulding on the Tide's home turf and in the other contests where he filled in for an injured Sylvain.
Sylvain is certainly a valuable talent in the Raiders' program - not just in football but in all seasons - but his absence on the field on Saturday isn't any advantage for Spaulding.

clarification

In my story about David Ball returning from camp in today's Times Argus (May 8, 2007), the beginning is a little confusing.
"BARRE – David Ball returned from the Chicago Bears rookie camp held over the weekend at the Chicago Bears facility and will return to the Windy City in 10 days – something roughly 15 other camp invitees can't say.
...
After being signed last Monday as a free agent following a disappointing NFL draft, Ball was one of about 50 players invited to the camp for an unknown number of roster vacancies and, according to Ball, about 35 of those 50 players have been cut."

*It SHOULD read that "something only about 15 other invitees CAN say." 15 players remain after this camp, not 35. According to Ball, about 35 were let go.

--Anna Grearson

more of catching up with David Ball

David Ball was at the Chicago Bears' mini camp this weekend, and while we're trying to catch up with him to see how it went, here's what the Chicago Bears themselves had to say about David's first practice with the Bears. Here's a piece by the Chicago Sun Times (of Jay Mariotti fame, all you Around the Horn fans) as well.

Keep checking back with us after he returns from camp.

--Anna Grearson

Catching up with David Ball

A now-famous familiar face was in attendance at Saturday's boys Division II, III and IV basketball championships at the Barre Auditorium - Spaulding grad, UNH star and NFL hopeful David Ball.

I chatted with him at halftime of the Thetford-South Royalton game about his upcoming pro day and about returning home for the festivities at one of his favorite places in his hometown - the Aud.

Look for it in Tuesday's sports section!

--Anna Grearson