Week 7 Teams of the Week

It's somewhat delayed because of the playoff scenarios, but here are my opinions on the top performances of Week 7 of the Vermont high school football season:

Teams of the week

• Division I: No team has been more enigmatic this season than Essex, with heart-breaking losses surrounding a couple of dominating performances. Friday was one of the latter, with the Hornets rolling to 34-6 victory over Brattleboro behind a big second half. EHS is still only 2-5, but with those wins coming against teams with a combined seven wins, the Hornets have enough points to remain in the playoff race -- especially with winless South Burlington as their opponent in the finale.
• Division II: After back-to-back losses to Bellows Falls and Burlington, it looked like Milton could be headed for a third straight fifth-place finish in a division where four make the playoffs. The Yellowjackets proved they have other plans Friday when they overpowered Fair Haven, 38-20, behind Ian Kandzior's four touchdowns. Milton jumped out to a 25-6 halftime lead and had a clutch answer down the stretch after Fair Haven cut the lead to five. The win hardly assures Milton (4-3) of a postseason berth, but if the Yellowjackets win out against North Country and Mt. Abraham, Fair Haven (5-2) will be the team needing an upset win down the stretch to be playing in Week 10.
• Division III: After winning just one regular-season game over the last two seasons, Springfield capped its big step forward this fall by all but assuring a playoff spot with a 70-54 victory over Winooski on Friday. Despite a tough schedule that included DII power Bellows Falls, the Cosmos sit at 3-4, and even if they lose their finale vs. Oxbow, they will be in the postseason unless Spaulding pulls an epic upset against U-32.

Game of the week

•  Mt. Anthony 30, CVU 27: Overcoming turnovers that led to a couple of early deficits, Mt. Anthony prevailed in a back-and-forth game that thew the playoff race for the loop. Quarterback Noah Normyle's big day on the ground was key for a Patriots team that all but clinched a playoff berth and moved itself into position to possibly snatch home field for the quarterfinals with a win over Brattleboro this weekend.