Football season review & All-Eagle Team

The Cosmos showed signs of improvement under first-year coach Gary Harris.
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Football Season Review & All-Eagle Team By Staff Reports | Dec 03, 2014 Share on print Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on email More Sharing Services 1 It was a productive year for local football teams with a number of schools making some noise in their respective divisions. Newport made some big strides this year under first-year coach Larry McElreavy. After making it to the conference championship game before losing to Stevens last year, the Tigers were determined as ever this year. That determination led Newport to a 7-1 regular-season record with its only loss coming at the hands of Campbell in a 21-20 decision after they were stopped on a late 2-point conversion. From there, the Tigers took care of business, as they won out the rest of their regular season and cruised past Mascoma and Gilford for the Division III North Conference championship and advance to the NHIAA Division III championship at UNH. The Tigers came up just short in a 20-6 decision against a red-hot Campbell team in the title game. It was a tough ride for Stevens this season a year after the Cardinals advanced all the way to the state championship game. After graduating a number of starters and facing some injuries this season, the Cardinals lost a couple of heartbreakers to Mascoma and Franklin, which prevented a postseason appearance. Newport finished the year with a 2-6 record with convincing wins over Newfound and rival Fall Mountain. Fall Mountain also had difficulty finding a rhythm this year, as the program continues to struggle with numbers. With only 20 players on the roster, the Wildcats finished the year with a 1-7 record with its only win coming in emphatic fashion against Newfound. Over in Windsor, the Yellow Jackets started to return to prominence in Vermont’s Division III, as they finished their regular season with a 5-2 record and earned a home playoff spot with a big win during their regular-season finale against rival Woodstock. Using the strength of a strong offensive line and three-headed rushing attack, Windsor breezed past U-32 in the first round of the playoffs, the Yellow Jackets went up against a very tough Otter Valley team in the second round and couldn’t find the magic to pull off the upset. In Bellows Falls, the Terriers continued to be a top contender in Division II. With a high-powered offense, the Terriers’ offense was one of the most productive in the state with a handful of weapons. The Terriers finished the regular season with a 7-2 record and the No. 3 seed in the Division II playoffs. BF had to go up against a familiar foe in Rice in the semifinals and lost to the Green Knights for the third year in a row in the postseason. In Springfield, the Cosmos continued to try and get the football program back and on its feet after having to cancel the season two years ago and going winless last season. The Cosmos showed signs of improvement under first-year coach Gary Harris, as they came out of the year with two wins and started to get some players experience along the way to be able to compete in the future. The following 22 players — along with Eagle Times Player of the Year Carson Fullam — make up the 2014 All-Eagle Football Team: Offense Richard Bell Stevens The sophomore led Stevens with 606 yards and six touchdowns on the ground and also paced the aerial attack with 328 yards and a 47.7 percent completion percentage. Tom Hogan Newport The senior quarterback brought stability and balance to an efficient Tiger offense. Hogan was capable of a big-play strike, while also limiting mistakes. Noah Wade Newport The junior running back exploded toward the end of the season after an increase in carries, racking up 506 rushing yards on 58 carries while scoring eight total touchdowns during the Tigers three-game playoff run. Stephan Nix Newport The junior was a reliable wide receiver for Hogan and the Tigers. Nix was trusted on short throws over the middle to move the chains, but also had a penchant for the big play. Ethan Illingworth Bellows Falls The senior ran the Terriers’ run-heavy offense well this season and gave the team the option of a pass game when needed. Illingworth represented Bellows Falls in the Vermont North-South Senior All-Star Game. Brian McAnuff Bellows Falls The senior capitalized on the few instances the Terriers’ threw the ball on the year, as he scored eight touchdowns on nine receptions for the year. McAnuff represented Bellows Falls in the Vermont North-South Senior All-Star Game. Austin Stack Bellows Falls Stack ran for over 800 yards and 12 touchdowns this year despite missing two games. He was a key part of the Terriers’ ground-and-pound offense all year long. Brendan Kelly Bellows Falls Kelly was an essential part of the Terriers’ game, as he was a strong member of the team’s talented offensive line. He was also a consistent kicker for the team and went 24-for-32 on extra points. He represented Bellows Falls in the Vermont North-South Senior All-Star Game. Russell Simonds Windsor The senior ran for 850 yards and also had 250 reception yards. He finished the year with 16 touchdowns and also threw an 85-yard touchdown. He represented Windsor in the Vermont North-South Senior All-Star game and was also a Division III All-League running back and safety. Jeremy Brooks Windsor The senior was a strong force on both sides of the ball on the line, as he played guard and defensive tackle. His size and strengths forced opponents to double team him on defense, which opened up the play for teammates. He represented Windsor in the Vermont North-South Senior All-Star game at defensive tackle. Josh Rivers Springfield The senior was a consistent producer for the Cosmos and represented Springfield in the Vermont North-South Senior All-Star game. Defense Cody Wirkkala Stevens The senior led Stevens with three sacks, was third on the team with 35 solo tackles and recovered a fumble. He was also a starter on the offensive line and was voted second-team All-State in NHIAA Division III. Collin Belt Stevens The junior linebacker-center paced the Cardinals with 65 tackles, including a team-leading 40 of the solo variety. He also contributed offensively in the trenches. Bryar Rouillard Stevens The senior tied for the team lead with two interceptions to go along with 21 solo tackles and a fumble recovery. Along with running the Cardinals’ offense behind center, he made a field-position impact while punting and kicking. Zach Whalen Newport The senior captain was a disruptive force at defensive end for the NHIAA Division III North Conference champions. With the ability to beat opposing blockers with strength and speed, Whalen was difficult to slow down and often pinched opposing rushing attacks. Additionally, he was a top-notch tight end for the Tigers. Patrick Hennig Newport The senior was tough to handle at defensive end, showcasing an ability to contain the outside and pressure opposing quarterbacks. He also anchored Newport’s offensive line at center. Derrick Pare Newport The senior linebacker was a key piece of a swarming Newport defense, which didn’t allow more than 22 points all season. He was a standout on special teams, serving as the kicker and punter. CJ Lawrence Newport The junior linebacker had a nose for the ball and a knack for the big play, intercepting a pass to seal the Tigers’ North Conference championship win over Gilford. He was also a big factor on offense as a bruising fullback. Ethan Stewart Fall Mountain The junior was a play-making linebacker and a tough runner from his quarterback position. He did well for the Fall Mountain defense as an impact athlete for the Wildcats. Kyle Record Bellows Falls The senior recorded a team-high 99 tackles for the Terriers this season. He gave the Terriers a hard-nosed presence on the offensive line and represented Bellows Falls in the Vermont North-South Senior All-Star game. Nick Kapuscinski Windsor The junior quarterback-linebacker didn’t have to show off his arm much in a run-heavy offense, but still passed for over 400 yards and ran for another 250. He was a defensive force and led the team in tackles. Peter Jaarsma Windsor The senior was a key member of the Yellow Jackets’ offensive and defensive lines all season. He led the Yellow Jackets in tackles for a loss and was also a captain of the team.