Allen runs Mill River past Cosmos

In Friday night’s football game, a 36-0 win over Springfield, Mill River’s Zach Allen eclipsed the 1,000-yard standard for the season after only six games.
http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20151003/SPORTS02/710039903

Mill River quarterback Mike Morgan (12) is chased out of the backfield by a pair of Springfield defenders. Photo: Albert J. Marro / Staff PhotoPublished October 3, 2015 in the Rutland Herald Allen runs Mill River past Cosmos By Tom Haley STAFF WRITER NORTH CLARENDON — Mill River’s Zach Allen has some cherished milestones in his family scrapbook. Last winter he picked up his 100th victory in wrestling and in Friday night’s football game, a 36-0 win over Springfield, he eclipsed the 1,000-yard standard for the season after only six games. The wrestling moment was special. But the football one had an additional layer — the team concept. “Both sports are my passion. I love them both,” Allen said at midfield after the game. “But this one was a team effort.” That is because his yardage hinges on some great work up front by Nate Kapusta, Ethan Merriam, Kevin Maguire, CJ Smith and Colt Billings. Fullback Larry Lambert also throws his share of blocks to provide Allen with that initial daylight. “The holes were there. They are always there,” the appreciative Allen said. Allen finished with 188 yards on 20 carries and did not carry the ball at all in the fourth quarter. He collected most of the real estate in the first half when he amassed 156 yards on 14 carries. Making it all the more special, his milestone came before a homecoming crowd in the Minutemen’s lone night game under temporary lights. The Cosmos could not have gotten off to a worse start. They fumbled the opening kickoff and Koby Langlois recovered it for the Minutemen to give them a short field. They covered the 30 yards in just three plays with Allen carrying each time. Then Allen got loose for a 54-yard TD sprint and it was 14-0 with 5:24 still remaining in the opening quarter. Quarterback Mike Morgan went over from a yard out with 14 ticks on the first-quarter clock for a 20-0 lead. Allen’s work for the opening quarter alone: 136 yards on 10 carries. Allen next scored from 9 yards out and Morgan drilled a 25-yard field goal to give the Minutemen a 30-0 halftime lead. The final score came in the third quarter, a 3-yard touchdown run by Morgan. Morgan gave the defense plenty to think about as he burned the Cosmos with his arm and his legs. He picked plenty of yardage scrambling and frustrated defenders all night when they were close to sacking him for big losses. Morgan finished with 161 yards passing and 88 yards rushing. Ben Tubbs had some success running the ball for the Cosmos, but they never really threatened to score. Springfield coach Rich Saypack had to be happy with the effort compared to the one in last week’s loss at Windsor. The Cosmos hit hard and played hard. And when quarterback Kyle Weeks hooked up with Logan Whitcomb for a long completion in the third quarter, the Springfield bench came alive even though the score was 36-0 at that point. The Minutemen have reeled off five wins in a row after the season-opening loss at Woodstock. “We’ve got plenty to work on but that is a good team win,” Mill River coach Jon Wallett told the team. Wallett was impressed with the physical play of the 2-4 Cosmos. “Those guys are tough. They hit,” he said. Jon Hildreth was very effective punting for the Cosmos and also had an interception. Brian Eaton and Cody Cook had interceptions for the Minutemen. The five-game winning streak is nice but Wallett sees it as validation for the improvement. “I think we are getting better every week,” he said. The Minutemen will try for the sixth straight win on Saturday at home against rival Poultney. The Cosmos will try to improve their playoff stock at Brown Field on Friday night when Winooski comes to town.