Bellows Falls, the state Division II football champions, put their stamp on the 20th North-South All-Star game on Nov. 20 at Castleton University's Dave Wolk Stadium.
The South won the game, 39-35, as BF quarterback Jonathan Terry ran in the winning touchdown on a 7-yard keeper with 2:39 left to play. His teammates, the power-running tandem of Jed Lober and Jeb Monier, each ran for a touchdown in an exciting game that saw six lead changes and two ties.
Hartford's Tarin Prior's second interception of the game, on the North's final drive, clinched the South's second straight victory. The North leads the all-time series with an 11-9 edge. The game, which features Vermont's top seniors, was canceled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The South team, led by coach Jack Hill of Fair Haven, went with a two-platoon offensive setup. For ball control and churning up the yards on the ground, he put Terry in charge of that unit, with Lober, Monier, and Mount Anthony's Hayden Gaudette as the running backs to power that unit.
For the South's aerial attack, Hill put Rutland quarterback Trey Davine in charge, who had his choice of teammate Slade Postemski, MAU's Austin Grogan, and Otter Valley's Dylan Stevens-Clark as receivers.
Sprinkled between the two offensive units were linemen Patrick Barbour of Bellows Falls and Calvin Gould and Tyler McNary of Brattleboro, receiver/defensive back Aaron Petrie of Brattleboro, running back/linebacker Harrison Gleim of Bellows Falls, and tight end/linebacker Max Hooke of Bellows Falls.
All proceeds from the North-South game benefit the scholarship and grant programs of the Vermont Chapter of the National Football Foundation.
SVL honors its cross-country stars
• Stephanie Ager and Aubrey Maxfield of Bellows Falls, Brattleboro's Ava Whitney, and Leland & Gray's Emma O'Brien were all First Team selections to the Southern Vermont League's cross-country All-Star teams.
Ager finished her senior season strong with third place showing in the Division III girls' state meet in a time of 21 minutes, 14 seconds on the 5-kilometer course at Thetford Academy on Oct. 30. She and Maxfield, who finished 12th, led the Terrier Harriers to a second-place team finish.
Ager continued her fall season by placing 100th overall in the varsity girls' race in a time of 21:51 at the New England High School Cross Country Championships on Nov. 13 at Thetford Academy.
Her final race of the season was her best, as Ager finished seventh in the girls' junior-senior race division in 20:13.2 in the Eastbay Cross-Country Northeast Regional on Nov. 27 at Van Cortlandt Park in Bronx, N.Y. That event that showcases the top high school runners from Maine to Maryland.
Whitney, who was Brattleboro's top female runner this season, joined Ager and Maxfield on the A Division First Team, while O'Brien, who was Leland & Gray's best runner this season, was selected to the B Division First Team.
No Brattleboro or Leland & Gray runners were selected to the SVL boys' teams, and Bellows Falls did not field a boys' team this season.
Jingle Bell Jog is Dec. 4
• The Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce presents the sixth annual 5K Jingle Bell Jog on Saturday, Dec. 4. This is a fun family-oriented way to kick off the winter season in Brattleboro.
The loop course starts downtown at the Brooks House, runs north on Main Street (between Elliot and High streets), then heads west up Route 9 (High Street and Western Avenue), turns onto Williams Street (by Vermont Country Deli) along the Whetstone Brook before hitting Elliot Street and into the Harmony Lot to the big finish at the Brooks House tunnel.
Prizes will be awarded to the top three men and women finishers and for best costume. Participants are encouraged to wear holiday-themed attire (the Chamber will provide the jingle bells). Entry fees are $20 for runners 13 years of age or older, with a special rate of $60 for a family of four or more. The entry fee includes a limited edition Jingle Bell Jog T-shirt and a Santa hat.
Race day registration at the Brooks House Atrium begins at 8 a.m., and the race kicks off promptly at 9 a.m. To register online, go to www.runreg.com/jingle-bell-jog-2021-dec-4, or contact the Chamber at 802-254-4565 for more details.
Skiing and snowboarding safely during COVID
• With COVID-19 travel restrictions and quarantine rules no longer in effect (for now), Vermont's ski areas say they plan to be fully open for the 2021-22 season.
However, skiers and riders should still be aware that not everything is as it was before COVID.
According to skivermont.com, “requirements or recommendations for indoor masking are set by each resort, so it's important to 'know before you go,' and check your destination resort's visitor information page prior to each visit. Vaccinations are not required to visit Vermont ski areas, however some resorts will require proof to enter certain indoor spaces.”
Vermont ski areas will be continuing with many of the changes introduced last season, such as online ticket pre-sales, optional touchless transactions, outdoor warming areas, and expanded preorder and grab-and-go food options. Again, check with the resort before you head out.
And once you are there, continue to do the things we've all been asked to do to help control the spread of the virus - respect the signage and directives of employees related to policies and procedures throughout the ski area, stay home if you are sick or if someone close to you is sick, keep a mask with you for wearing in indoor spaces, and wash or sanitize your hands frequently.
Gear up for the holidays with Vermont State Parks
• Looking for a holiday gift that won't be sold out or stuck on a container ship somewhere in the Pacific? How about a gift card or season pass for any of Vermont State Parks? Their popular online merchandise sales are back after a pause due to COVID-19 at www.vtstateparks.com.
“Whether you're looking to gift a romantic getaway for that special someone, a lifetime of fun memories, or stylish tokens to remember your favorite trips, the Vermont State Parks online shop has everything you need to give the perfect gift,” they wrote in a news release.
You can mix and match Vermont State Parks gear with gift certificates and gift cards to build an adventure pack. They also have plenty of stocking stuffers, such as hats, flashlights, patches, and more, for the outdoor-minded. Or, get a jump on 2022's adventures by getting a season pass for any of Vermont's 55 state parks.
Senior bowling roundup
• Week 13 of the fall/winter season of the Brattleboro Senior Bowling League at Brattleboro Bowl on Nov. 23 saw Stayin' Alive and Alley Katz (both 41-24) have 5-0 weeks to remain tied for first place. Pin Setters (36-29) also had a 5-0 week to move into third place, followed by Pin Falls (35.5-29.5), Team Four (30-35), Rolling Stones (27.5-37.5), Trash-O-Matic (25-40), and Old Farts (24-41).
Roberta Parsons had the women's high handicap game (235) and series (649), while Robert Rigby had the men's high handicap game (269) and Charlie Marchant had the high handicap series (698). Pin Setters had the high team handicap game (902) and series (2,562).
In scratch scoring, Rigby led the men with a 606 series, with games of 269 and 186. Chuck Adams had a 563 series that featured games of 214, 178, and 171. Marchant had a 531 series with games of 179, 179, and 173, while Warren Corriveau Sr. had a 517 series with a 215 game and Fred Bump had a 511 series with games of 178 and 171. Jerry Dunham rolled a 178 game.
Nancy Dalzell had the high scratch game (185) and series (479) to lead the women. Dalzell also had a 166 game. Shirley Aiken rolled a 168 game.