Jacob Drasin accepts the team's Most Improved Player award from Coach Sorci at the fall sports awards dinner

Cedric Vinet accepts the John H. Lucy award, which goes to the member of the varsity football team who, through dedication, spirit and preserverance has worked to improve his skills and uphold the ideals of sport exemplified by John H Lucy – teacher, coach, Athletic Director at VA from 1939-1981

Mathieu Loiselle accepts the E. K. Hall award, which goes to the member of the varsity football team who, both on and off the field, has contributed most to the spirit and good name of the team. The contribution is to be measured by his interest in and enthusiasm for the game; the intensity of his effort, his sportsmanship as shown by his spirit in victory and defeat, and most of all, by his constructive influence on the other members of the team.

The Wildcats came up on the short end of the score this week, 59-35. The host team played a great game and had an excellent game plan that kept the Wildcats off balance all afternoon. Both teams turned the ball over - Holderness 4 times but VA turned it over 6 times. VA scored first on a 72 yard run by Joe Stefanik '12, but the hosts went up 35-8 at half time. The Wildcats finally woke up but they had dug themselves too big a hole to recover. The team did fight to the end, with a 54 yard TD pass on the final play of the game. Joe Stefanik had 3 TD's, while Mathieu Loiselle had 2 fumble recoveries and 1 interception.

The Wildcats are on the road next Saturday with another away game vs Pingree School. The game has been moved to 6 om and will be played at Bishop Fenwick High School.

VA football hosted the Proctor Hornets on Sat Oct 22 and came out on top of a wild game 49-44. The game would see 5 lead changes and over 1000 yards of offense, with the game literally being decided on the final play of the game.

VARSITY FOOTBALL
This past Saturday, VA hosted the Varsity football team from Hyde, ME and came away with a 41-22 win.

On a sunny Saturday afternoon, the two teams played a highly entertaining game. VA took the opening kickoff 71 yards in 5 plays, ending in a 4 yard TD run by Mathieu Loiselle '13. The try for two was good and VA was up quickly 8-0. Hyde would strike right back, taking the VA kickoff 95 yards. Their PAT kick was no good - 8-6 Wildcats. The teams traded punts, before VA scored again, this time on a 2 yard run by Loiselle. The try for two was again good and it was 16-6, VA ahead. A partially blocked punt by Captain Dan Scalzo '12 gave VA great field position and a quick strike pass to Sawyer Duran '13, put VA up 22-6 (the extra point was wide left). However, Hyde would answer again, this time on a 75 yard kick off return. The TD, along with a 2 point try, made the game 22-16 at halftime.

Hyde took the second half kickoff on a 64 yard TD drive. The two point try was good and it was a tie game, 22 all early in the third quarter. 

VA refused to be rattled. They got the momentum back as they took the next three possessions in for TD's, the first by Loiselle, then the next two by running back Joe Stefanik '12. Kicker Jordan Arzi was good on one of three extra points making the final score 41-22.

Next game on Saturday is an away game vs an always strong Tilton Academy team

The VA Wildcats traveled to Woodstock, Conn on Saturday to take on host Hyde School. The start of the game was delayed due to SAT exams, but VA didn't show any signs of not being ready to play.

Holding Hyde to a 3 plays and punt first series, VA took the Hyde punt from their own 38 yard line and drove 62 yards for a 7 yard TD run by Joe Stefanik '12. Stefanik also ran the two point try in for a quick 8-0 lead for VA. The second Hyde possession yielded a first down for the hosts due to a VA penalty, and VA again received the punt in their own end of the field. This time, the team marched 73 yards for the score. A 12 yard pass from QB Alex Kahn '12 to running back Mathieu Loiselle '13 was capped on a two point pass reception by WR Jamel Artis '13 to make it 16-0 VA in the first quarter.

Hyde continued to battle, and the teams played even in the second quarter. VA received the second half kick and once again marched 74 yards for a TD. Stefanik ran the ball in from 13 yards out and the Jordan Arzi '12 extra point made it 23-0. Hyde fumbled the ensuing kickoff and gave VA the ball on the Hyde 22 yard line. 2 quick pass receptions gave VA another TD, the scoring catch by Artis from Kahn from 7 yards out. Arzi's kick made it 30-0.

Hyde, to their credit, did not quit. On the very next possession, Hyde running back Jahvaney Beckford weaved his way through the VA defense for a 40 yard TD. The try for 2 failed, making it 30-6 VA. VA put together another nice scoring drive, this one of 49 yards (after the Hyde on-side kick), capped on a 3 yard run by Loiselle. Arzi's extra point was true and it was 37-6. Finally, with less than two minutes left in the game, a VA fumble on their own 12 yard line gave Hyde good field position, and they capitalized with a 4 yard TD run by QB Connor McLaughin. The extra point was good  finishing the scoring at 37-13.

Next game for the Wildcats is home on Saturday vs Hyde School from Maine.

The VA Varsity Football team opened their regular season hosting New Hampton on Saturday Sept 24th. A good crowd was on hand as it was Alumni and trustees weekend, and they were treated to a fine football game.
 
Both teams showed early season mistakes in the first half. Several early start and off-sides penalties, along with great defense by both teams, lead to sputtering offenses. New Hampton struck first after a VA misscue. A high snap by the VA punt team gave the visitors great field position on the home teams 28 yard line. New Hampton scored on a 1 yd QB sneak by their fine Captain Jake Kiley. A huge 4th and 12 pass completion by receiver Matt Dean kept that drive alive. The extra point was wide right, 6-0 New Hampton. VA would answer on a New Hampton misscue. A incomplete swing pass behind the line of scrimmage was reccovered by VA's Joe Mizhir '13 giving the home team the ball at midfield. A nice 8 play drive was capped on a 7 yard TD run by Alex Kahn '12. The try for two was stopped by New Hampton and it was 6-6 at the half.
 
The second half was a much more well played game as momentum would swing both ways. It was physical football as both teams continued to pound away on each other. New Hampton would strike next on a 4th and goal half back pass from the 6 yard line from tailback Javar Coleman to QB Jake Kiley. The very important try for two was good on a TE pop pass to Clint Atkinson, 14-6 New Hampton. VA would answer again. Pounding running by running back Joe Stafanik '12 and timely pass receptions by WR Jamel Artis '13 moved the ball down the field as the third period moved into the fourth. Artis would catch the VA scoring pass from 8 yards out to make it 14-12. The tying try for two failed thanks to a great tackle by New Hampton DE John Guy.
 
The two teams continued to battle, and with 1:09 left on the clock New Hampton running back Coleman broke a 22 yard run to put New Hampton up 20-12. They try for two was well defended, keeping the pont spread at 8 and giving VA a chance to tie. Starting at their own 23 yard line, VA moved the ball down the field, and got just into New Hampton territory as time ran out.
 
Next up, VA will travel to Hyde School in Connecticut next Saturday

The VA football squad hosted Holderness in it's final scrimmage on Saturday. Both teams played well. The first half of the scrimmage was a controlled affair with each team running two series of ten offensive plays from the 40 yard line. The VA defense held Holderness scoreless, while VA's Mathieu Loiselle '13 was able to find the end zone for the Wildcats.
 
The second half of the scrimmage was played like a game. Holderness was on offense first and the VA defense stopped the Bulls on a fumble recovery by Raquish Foster '12. With very good field position, VA failed to score as a pass into the endzone was intercepted by Holderness. VA forced the visitors to punt after three plays and the VA offense put together a nice scoring drive. Highlights were a clutch first down pass reception by Dan Gendron '12 to keep the drive alive, and a 10 yard TD run by Joe Stefanik '12. A  two-point conversion catch by Jamel Artis '13 capped the drive.
The VA defense once agin held strong and forced a Holderness punt, but the visitors refused to quit. Another Holderness interception gave them great field position and a quick two-play drive gave them a TD. Holderness chose to kick the extra point, which was successful. VA had one more drive strarted but time ran out on the day.
 
Other players of note were the fine play defensive end Tyler Hurd '12, and two interceptions by safety Alex Kahn '12. VA opens the regular season at Home vs New Hampton next Saturday at 3 pm. The VA JV football team will host Stanstead College from Quebec on Wednesday.