BRADFORD, Vt. — The halftime line at the Oxbow High football concession shack was growing steadily when a strained voice was raised from the small building’s covered front porch.
“There are only three hot dogs left!” shouted the worker. Consternation and slumped shoulders ran through the queue. Their Olympians already trailed visiting Windsor by 23 points and now this.
Things didn’t get any better, either, as the Yellowjackets eventually prevailed, 46-13, and continued their undefeated VPA Division III gridiron season.
“They’re not the defending champs for nothing,” said Oxbow coach Chad Wescott, whose 3-4 team surrendered 319 rushing yards. “You can’t make mistakes against a team like that, because they make you pay. And we made too many mistakes early.”
Windsor coach Greg Balch declined comment.
The Yellowjackets’ Travis McAllister carried nine times for 105 yards and returned a kickoff for a touchdown. Teammate Gavin Martin rushed eight times for 107 yards and a touchdown before exiting with an apparent concussion.
Oxbow’s William Ilsley carried six times for 69 yards, including a 52-yard touchdown.
Windsor (7-0) opened the scoring on a 10-yard run by Logan Worrall that capped a nine-play, 92-yard drive. Martin ran for the conversion and an 8-0 lead midway through the first quarter.
Oxbow’s Ilsley swept right for his touchdown on the hosts’ next play, and Chase Lund booted the extra point to pull Oxbow within 8-7.
The Yellowjackets’ McAllister returned the ensuing kickoff 83 yards for a touchdown, and Worrall ran for the conversion points and a 16-7 lead. Twenty-three points were scored in fewer than 30 seconds.
Windsor went up, 24-7, early in the second quarter. Quarterback Maison Fortin threw 38 yards to Rodger Petermann for a touchdown, and Martin provided a conversion run.
The Yellowjackets needed only two more snaps before McAllister bolted 58 yards for a score and a 30-7 lead eight minutes before intermission.
The visitors received the second half’s opening kickoff and drove 67 yards in five plays, scoring on Corey Lockwood’s 7-yard run and a Worrall conversion scamper. Windsor led, 38-7.
Oxbow concluded its scoring when Lund threw 26 yards to Xavier Beaudin with 54 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Windsor scored again on an 8-yard run by Fortin and a conversion run by Brody Osgood with 8 minutes, 30 seconds to play.
Worrall finished with seven carries for 48 yards and a touchdown, and Fortin completed two of five pass attempts for 86 yards and a touchdown.
“They’re a disciplined, well-coached team that does the little things well,” Wescott said of the Yellowjackets, who were 11-0 last fall. “I preached to our kids all week that (Windsor) blocks out to the second and third levels, and if you don’t adjust, then you’re in for a long day.”
Nikk Schwarz carried nine times for 19 yards and Lund completed five of 13 pass attempts for 66 yards and a touchdown for Oxbow. Windsor concludes the regular season next week by hosting arch-rival Woodstock (4-3). Oxbow visits Mt. Abraham (3-3).
Notes: Former Windsor field hockey coach Sandy Clary, who ran her program for 42 years before exiting after the 2014 season, attended the game. … Windsor’s Martin spent much of the second half seated on the bench with an ice bag on his neck, a towel over his head and sunglasses on. Teammate Tydus Percy was also sidelined with an apparent leg injury. … Wescott said his line was inexperienced to begin with and has missed senior tackle Calvin Carbee, who returned Saturday from an injury absence. … Oxbow’s roster listed 21 players, and Windsor’s had 32. … Lund was audibly unhappy with a football he punted late in the game. “What are you doing bouncing backwards?” he shouted at the uncooperative pigskin.
Tris Wykes can be reached at twykes@vnews.com.