New Hampshire defense must be air-tight
Editor's Note: Tom Haley has been covering high school football for the Rutland (Vt.) Herald since 1987. He has been selected as the Vermont Sportswriter of the Year seven times and has received the Contributor to Football Award from the Vermont Chapter of the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame. Before moving to the Rutland Herald, Haley worked as the sports editor at the Claremont Eagle Times and as Fall Mountain Regional High School's athletic director. He covered Vermont's Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl victory in 1975 and hasn't missed a Shrine Game since. He recently participated in the following interview regarding this year's game, which will be played Saturday (2:30 p.m.) at Dartmouth's Memorial Field:
NHFR: Tell us a little bit about Vermont high school football. How many teams are there, and how many divisions?
Haley: Vermont football has 34 teams and three divisions, down from four the past several seasons. (There are 51 NHIAA schools with varsity football, and those teams are spread across five divisions.)
NHFR: Vermont plays a North-South Senior All-Star Game in November. Do you think this game gives Vermont an edge over New Hampshire in any way?
Haley: Coaches swear by the North-South game as an evaluation tool in the selection process for the Shrine Game.
NHFR: What can you tell us about Vermont head coach Dennis Perry?
Haley: Dennis won back-to-back Division II state championships at Fair Haven and a Division IV crown at Otter Valley. His son Joel played in the Shrine Game and was a QB at Plymouth State, where he was the Freedom Football Conference Offensive Player of the Year.
NHFR: Who are the Vermont players we should keep an eye on in this year's game?
Haley: Quarterback Corey Robinson has a sidearm delivery, but is effective and knows the system, having played for Perry at Otter Valley. But the big-play guys will be Marcus Hass of U-32, a wide receiver who is a great athlete; and Gatorade Player of the Year Andrew Plumley of Burlington at running back.
NHFR: In your opinion, what's the strength of this year's Vermont team?
Haley: The wide-open offense studded with mercurial receivers. Brian Grady, Vermont's offensive coordinator, won the game as a head coach in 2000 by scoring a record 47 points. That's the last time Vermont has won.
NHFR: Will we see another pass-heavy offense from Vermont this year?
Haley: Definitely. No question.
NHFR: New Hampshire has a 38-13-2 edge in the series. Do you think the Vermont team considers itself a heavy underdog in this year's game?
Haley: No. Normally, but not this year. I actually like their chances, and I don't usually say that.
NHFR: Will this be Vermont's year?
Haley: You can say that unequivocally given the history, but I think if any year can be their year, it's this one.
