http://rutlandherald.com/article/20130915/SPORTS02/709159947
Published September 15, 2013 in the Rutland Herald MSJ ends skid, 40-14 vs. Cosmos By CHUCK CLARINO CORRESPONDENT The Mount St. Joseph football team practices the “Victory” formation each Friday but it’s been quite some time since the Mounties used it in a game. The Mounties rediscovered a running game and found some balance in grinding out a 40-14 win over Springfield and finally got to employ the “Victory” formation Saturday in Division III action at St. Peter’s Field. The win is the first for the Mounties since they defeated Montpelier two seasons ago and pushes MSJ to 1-2, while Springfield fell to 0-2. Mountie quarterback Collin Gilbert was a catalyst in the MSJ win, firing touchdown passes of 14 yards and 40 yards to Shane Protivansky, while running for a 9-yard score himself. But the key was that Gilbert began to use his legs nistea of his arm to pick up yardage and first downs. The senior signal-caller, who started as a freshman for MSJ, ended up completing 6 of 14 passes for 113 yards and also led the Mounties in rushing yards racking up 113 yards on 12 carries. “They gave me the holes so don’t tell me not to take them,” Gilbert said. “Yes, it really opened it up for everyone. We hope to turn it around and hopefully we can take this momentum and carry it through to Poultney next week.” Gilbert’s sneaks and draws enabled a string of Mountie backs to be effective. So did the O-line of Kevin Elliott, Garth Babb, Taylor Lio, David Perry, Tyler Billings and tight end Kyle Ballard. Freed from the constant pressure of pass blocking, the Mountie line began to fire out and opened big holes for their backs. Junior tailback Dante Smith had a breakout game, rolling up 107 yards on eight carries, including a 38-yard TD run. Junior Mike LaDuc scored his first varsity touchdown, a 6-yard burst, while adding 45 yards. Smith was a terror on special teams, slipping through the Cosmos’ defense with his shifty running and sweet moves for 49-yard touchdown on a punt return. “We like the spread (offense) but the last couple of games it kind of got away from us,” MSJ coach Jeff Cassarino said. “We talked today, if we got a lead let’s line up in the ‘twins’ or an ‘I’ and see if we can’t run the football. It helps us because teams prepare for the spread.” The spread worked to get MSJ the lead as Gilbert hit Protivansky on a swing pass for a 14-yard scoring strike on MSJ’s first offensive set. After Springfield tied it on a 48-yard ramble by Mitchell Greenwood, Gilbert found Protivansky again sneaking out of the backfield and the sophomore fullback did the rest with his legs on the 40-yard score that put MSJ up for keeps at 1:35 of the second period. But it was the running game in the second half that blew the game open. The Mounties piled up 181 of their 271 rushing yards in the second half, scoring on four of seven second half possessions, including the scintillating 49-yard punt return touchdown by Smith. Meanwhile, Springfield in its run-heavy double-wing offense was hard-pressed to do much on offense. The Mountie defense rose up and stonewalled the Cosmos, shutting down the power run game. MSJ’s defense yielded only 33 rushing yards in the second half after giving up 185 in the first half. Individually, Springfield’s leading ball carrier Greenwood gained only 29 of his game-high 133 yards in the second half. As the Mountie lead grew, the defense became more confident and Springfield’s offense is just not dynamic enough to come back from a big deficit. “I think it came down to fundamentals today,” said Springfield coach Kevin Tallman. “They finished when they had to and we didn’t.” Springfield’s lone second half score came on an 80-yard touchdown on a kickoff return by Sean Jeffers, with MSJ leading 34-6. MSJ travels to Poultney, while Springfield hosts juggernaut Mill River next Saturday.
Fall Mountain 36, Springfield 8
ReplyDeleteWoodstock 65, Springfield 0
MSJ 40, Springfield 14 (first win for MSJ in 2 yrs)
The used car salesman once again says their opponent finished and the Cosmos did not, please work on a new excuse, our young athletes deserve better. The principle may be turning around things at the High School but they don't include weak coaches. Can you say 0-9. (Pending finishing the season before injuries becomes his excuse, again.)
His back is not a voicemail, say it to his face! If you think you can do better please apply for a coaching position. Until then, sit down.
DeleteGive em a break.Or better yet, maybe you want to try
DeleteShortman, I won't hide behind a pseudonym (like you) because I'm proud to stand up for Kevin Tallman. Do you seriously expect a team filled with young kids (with little experience) to dominate? Rebuilding a program takes time and Coach Tallman is the RIGHT man for the job.
DeleteI have had the opportunity to watch a lot of coaches over a 20+ year career in sportscasting, and rarely have I seen a man as dedicated to the welfare of "his kids" as Kevin. And just so you know, a head coach from one of those winning teams you listed told me he is very impressed with the job Tallman is doing. I value his opinion a lot more than yours.
By the way, the Fall Mountain "loss" was not a loss at all. It was a scrimmage. There is a difference but in your haste to ridicule Tallman and the kids who have the guts to put on a uniform, you only make yourself look foolish.
I think Tallman will be responsible for destroying Springfield football forever. After completely destroying last year's season that ended with most of the games being forfeited because he could not recruit and properly train a team he was given another opportunity to drive a stake through the heart of Springfield football and bury it forever. With the team competing at a lower level now(thanks to Tallman) they can't win a game(thanks Tallman). Why was Tallman left in place after demonstrating complete incompetence? Is it part of a secret plan to destroy Springfield football like they have already done to the town of Springfield? This has nothing to do with rebuilding, it is all about destroying a sports program on purpose by hiring incompetent people.
DeletePlease sir or ma'am, I welcome you to come down to Brown field on Friday at 7PM and talk to Tallman and tell him what you would do to make it better. Better yet, apply for the coaching position next year and prove him wrong, take our boys to a championship. I won't hold my breath.
DeleteGreat simple answers. Apply for the job and do it yourself! You do dotes realize that Tallman applied for the job he wanted and said he was prepared to do. Which by the why he has proven he was not prepared. Didn't the school say they hired him because he had some nice brochures with him at the interview? I have some NASCAR brochures but it doesn't mean I'm going to the race this weekend. Just because you or your son loves him doesn't make a football coach. It's not about someone else coaching it, it's about the school correcting their mistake. Last check my tax dollars are going into that program, thinking that means I have a voice also. Another point as I read these comments. I don't seem any negative remarks about the players or kids involved so don't make it about them. It starts and ends with the coach. So are you saying the coaching position will be open next year?
DeleteIt wasn't MSJ's first win in two years. The talent they have to work with is sub par to say the least. Not anyone's fault its just the way it is. Kinda tough to coach a team to your standards when kids don't know any basic skills when they come into 9th grade. So be critical of them all you want and get nothing accomplished or go out there and support them. Also 0-9.... so be it.. not the first time and probably not the last time..
ReplyDeleteI was at that game and the Cosmos never quit! They had heart. I don't know why the reporter said the Cosmos offense had nothing because I saw a bunch of plays that were over 10 yards. #22 ran the ball a lot and got a touchdown right up the middle. #24 got an awesome kickoff return.
DeleteHonestly, do we really have to say it again. We are rebuilding the program. A program that got driven into the ground by the past TWO coaches. Yup, I said it. If you don't cultivate your feeder program you can't expect miracles in high school. We now have strong coaching in middle school and maybe if you stop talking smack and help start a pee wee football league we can build a strong football program. Not everyone can shuttle their kids to football in BF. We did it and it wasn't easy. I spend a ridiculous amount of time helping out the program because this is my son's passion. Uneducated, uninformed and uninvolved citizens with their derogatory comments should either put up or shut up.
ReplyDelete