Windsor 36, Woodstock 0: Yellowjackets deliver third consecutive state title victory

Windsor teammates Gavin Martin, left, and Daniel Haugaard-Steffensen react to their 36-0 Division III state championship win over Woodstock in Rutland, Vt., on Nov. 11, 2023. The Yellowjackets won their third straight title. (Valley News - Geoff Hansen) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com.

Windsor teammates Gavin Martin, left, and Daniel Haugaard-Steffensen react to their 36-0 Division III state championship win over Woodstock in Rutland, Vt., on Nov. 11, 2023. The Yellowjackets won their third straight title. (Valley News - Geoff Hansen) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com. Valley News photographs — Geoff Hansen

Windsor hoists the hardware following their 36-0 shutout of Woodstock in the Division III state championship in Rutland, Vt., on Nov. 11, 2023. It is the team’s third straight state title. (Valley News - Geoff Hansen) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com.

Windsor hoists the hardware following their 36-0 shutout of Woodstock in the Division III state championship in Rutland, Vt., on Nov. 11, 2023. It is the team’s third straight state title. (Valley News - Geoff Hansen) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com. lGeoff Hansen

Windsor's Justin Draper breaks through the grasps of Woodstock's Ben Runstein, left, and Chance Palmer in the Division III state championship in Rutland, Vt., on Nov. 11, 2023. Windsor blanked Woodstock 36-0 to win their third straight title. (Valley News - Geoff Hansen) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com.

Windsor's Justin Draper breaks through the grasps of Woodstock's Ben Runstein, left, and Chance Palmer in the Division III state championship in Rutland, Vt., on Nov. 11, 2023. Windsor blanked Woodstock 36-0 to win their third straight title. (Valley News - Geoff Hansen) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com. Geoff Hansen

From left, Daniel Haugaard-Steffensen, Corey Lockwood and Anthony Cook celebrate Lockwood's second quarter touchdown in the Division III state championship against Woodstock in Rutland, Vt., on Nov. 11, 2023. Windsor blanked Woodstock 36-0 to win their third straight title. (Valley News - Geoff Hansen) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com.

From left, Daniel Haugaard-Steffensen, Corey Lockwood and Anthony Cook celebrate Lockwood's second quarter touchdown in the Division III state championship against Woodstock in Rutland, Vt., on Nov. 11, 2023. Windsor blanked Woodstock 36-0 to win their third straight title. (Valley News - Geoff Hansen) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com. Geoff Hansen

Woodstock's Jake Blackburn leaps through a hole in the Windsor defense while being pursued by Windsor's Dante Roy in the Division III state championship in Rutland, Vt., on Nov. 11, 2023. Windsor avenged their regular season loss to Woodstock in a 36-0 win for the state title. (Valley News - Geoff Hansen) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com.

Woodstock's Jake Blackburn leaps through a hole in the Windsor defense while being pursued by Windsor's Dante Roy in the Division III state championship in Rutland, Vt., on Nov. 11, 2023. Windsor avenged their regular season loss to Woodstock in a 36-0 win for the state title. (Valley News - Geoff Hansen) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com. Geoff Hansen

Woodstock head coach Ramsey Worrell gives words of encouragement to Windsor's Brooks Ruderman as the teams shake hands after their Division III state championship in Rutland, Vt., on Nov. 11, 2023. Windsor avenged their regular season loss to Woodstock in a 36-0 win for the state title. (Valley News - Geoff Hansen) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com.

Woodstock head coach Ramsey Worrell gives words of encouragement to Windsor's Brooks Ruderman as the teams shake hands after their Division III state championship in Rutland, Vt., on Nov. 11, 2023. Windsor avenged their regular season loss to Woodstock in a 36-0 win for the state title. (Valley News - Geoff Hansen) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com.

Staff report

Published: 11-12-2023 2:34 PM

RUTLAND — Utilizing punishing line play and a misdirection offense on Saturday, the Windsor High football team powered past Woodstock, 36-0, for its third consecutive Vermont Division III title.

The Yellowjackets dominated from start to finish at Rutland High, avenging a 21-point loss to the Wasps during the neighboring rivals’ regular-season finale. That previous result snapped Windsor’s 28-game winning streak.

Windsor earned the seventh state championship in program history and its fifth since 2016.

“We told our kids to play good, solid fundamental football and not to go crazy in your head thinking about the past,” said Windsor coach Greg Balch. “This is a big deal for me, and it’s something we’re very proud of.”

Said lineman Avery Bean: “Last game against them, we started getting out of control and trying to go all over the field instead of concentrating on doing our jobs. This really means something to the Windsor community.”

Yellowjackets quarterback Corey Lockwood and running backs Brady Olmstead, Brody Osgood and Justin Draper consistently gained yards behind a line with a size advantage over the Wasps (9-2).

“Keep plowing them, boys!” shouted a Windsor fan near the press box.

Windsor (9-1) opened the scoring on a 28-yard field goal by Daniel Haugaard-Steffensen midway through the first quarter.

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The Yellowjackets went up, 9-0, when Lockwood ran 8 yards on a bootleg early in the second quarter. The extra-point try was ruled wide.

Windsor scored a minute before halftime when Lockwood again showed off his wheels. The signal-caller swept left for a 10-yard touchdown, leaving the score 17-0 at intermission.

Olmstead ran for touchdowns of 4 and 30 yards during the second half. He also recovered a fumble with eight minutes remaining deep in Yellowjackets territory.

Draper ran for a 10-yard touchdown with two minutes to play. The extra point made the score 36-0. It was the first shutout in the Division III final since 2005.

“We could pull anything out of our bag and when you have that, no team can stop you,” said Olmstead, a transfer from Hartford. “It’s a different feeling, to come back and win a championship with your new family.”

Saturday’s game was the fourth time Windsor and Woodstock have played for a title. Windsor won that clash in 2017 and lost two others in 2011 and 2001.