Sweet

Sweet, WINDSOR, Vt. – A hole in the offensive line of Vermont, and the team lineman Barry Powers NH burst right through.

The prominent regional Conval beaten All-State quarterback Keegan Corbett to lift the ball to throw, and came free and fell to the ground. Laconia of Cherokees Josh pounced on the ball as a cheer Powers.

The ball was just one of many turnovers in Saturday’s 57th Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl on Macleay-Royce Field in Windsor High School.

New Hampshire defeated Vermont 34-20 in the battle of high school graduates from All-Stars. New Hampshire has improved Shrine Bowl 42-13-2 record with his tenth consecutive victory in the series.

New Hampshire jumped out to a 20-0 lead with seven of those points came on a interception return Shrine Bowl record of 90 yards from Kyle McAuliffe of Plymouth.

But the Granite Staters could not ice of Green Mountain boys, who took advantage of the many blunders NH, New Hampshire lost four fumbles and threw two interceptions.

Vermont was the turnover-free, either. Quarterback Keegan Corbett of Mount Anthony threw three interceptions in his first five passes.

Both teams also were heavily penalized. Vermont received 11 penalties for 65 yards, and New Hampshire collected 18 flags for 165 yards.

In addition, Milford lineman Bryan Airoldi was ejected for a foul in the third quarter.

Powers devastating blow came a few minutes later at the 8:51 mark with his team up 34-14.

“I had just because we were tying to keep fresh bodies on defense, and I’ve been on line D for so long I thought,” said the 6-foot-2, 215-pounds. “(Offensive Line Vermont) left a hole in the inside so I just took it and was there on the QB.”

New Hampshire scored on the next drive, but the turnover helped eat some clock – the time that Vermont might have used, especially after quarterback Zach Brandon Boyle Dessureau related to a 10-yard touchdown to reduce the lead to 34-20 with 4:17 left.

Due to a rule of funky in the Shrine Bowl statutes which states that if a team is 10 or more points, the team can choose to receive the kickoff after scoring, Vermont got the ball and went to the line NH 4-yard with 2: 10 left.

Down 14 points, Vermont coach Charlie Burnett elected to attempt a field goal on second down. Tyler Flinn kick was blocked, but he took the ball and tried to volley in the end zone. The ball fell to the turf. The play was ruled an incomplete pass.

On third down, Vermont tried and missed another kick. New Hampshire took over the ball and ran out the clock.

Granite State team put together a relentless ground attack, led by Steven Jellison Souhegan of, who had 17 carries for 94 yards. N.H. finished with 300 yards rushing.

Keene Colby Wilkinson was one of the linemen is doing the blocking for Jellison and Michael Cavanaugh of Manchester Central, which numbered 58 yards in nine.

Players from both teams spent 10 days in nearby Kimball Union Academy prepares for the game, with no fewer than three practices a day. Wilkinson said he was pleased that all practices worthwhile.

“It was definitely good after almost two full weeks of work to go out with a win,” said the 5-foot-10, 195-pound center. “It was hard work. It was more work I’ve done in a week of football.”

Powers, who is going to Plymouth State University in the fall to play running back, said the practices were much more difficult than expected. Throughout the three-hour sessions, Powers said he was not sure how much playing time he would receive in the big game.

“I’m very surprised this player,” said Powers, who also recorded an almost certainty in the first half. “I thought it had a true point, but we did turn a lot of people all the time (during the game).”

Intense practice sessions seemed to galvanize the team though.

“I did not think a team of stars at all,” said Wilkinson. “Nobody had bad attitudes. Nobody asked for the ball. No one called plays. All I just wanted to win.”

Despite all the turnover of New Hampshire and Vermont to use 10-point rule, he never lost confidence that his team would win Wilkinson.

“It was crazy in the end,” Wilkinson said, “but we had the mental discipline to stand up.” Wilkinson is going to Phillips Exeter Academy, en route to play college football somewhere, possibly in an Ivy League school, he said. Although no longer carry the logo on his helmet Blackbird, Wilkinson said the Shrine Bowl was the perfect way to exit.