Games and Teams of the Week for Week 5

Here are my thoughts on the top teams and games from Week 5 of the Vermont High School football season.

Teams of the week

• Division I: Is there any doubt? St. Johnsbury turned Saturday's battle of unbeatens against CVU into a blowout with a big surge in the third quarter. The result was a 52-26 victory that stakes the Hilltoppers into a comfortable lead in the QPR standings. Collin Urie piled up 320 all-purpose yards and had a hand in four touchdowns, proving even the state's best defense can't slow down SJA's overwhelming attack.
• Division II: There was a second straight shutout at Buck Hard Field on Friday night, and this one went Burlington's way. The Seahorses had a couple of goal-line stands and rode the running of Kevin Garrison and Alex Cate to a 27-0 win over Mt. Mansfield, basically flip-flopping the score from last week's loss to unbeaten Burr and Burton. BHS is 4-1 and can all but lock up a playoff berth if it can beat Milton at home next weekend.
• Division III: With all due respect to Woodstock and Windsor, both of which scored another impressive win, they've both received their share of recognition here. Instead, Oxbow gets the nod after Friday's 35-16 win over Springfield. The two teams both entered at 1-3, and with three D3 teams winless, two victories might be the threshold to get in the playoffs. The Olympians are there, and they can make sure of a postseason berth with a win at North Country next week or at home vs. Spualding in Week 7.
  

Game of the week

• Colchester 25, Brattleboro 22: The Lakers had the momentum at the end, and that was the difference in this back-and-forth battle. Behind Cheick Diakite's powerful running, Brattleboro shook off an early 13-0 deficit and seemingly took control to grab a 22-13 edge going to the fourth quarter. But Jerrett Schnabel and Alex O'Connell scored late touchdowns and the Lakers defense held in the last two minutes for a thrilling victory that leaves both teams 2-3.

Week 5 Game to Watch

• Mill River at Windsor (2 pm Saturday): Mill River missed on its first opportunity to score a marquee victory in Friday's loss to Woodstock, but the Minutemen get an immediate second chance against the Wasps. Windsor (5-0) is second and Mill River (4-1) is third in the standings so this one might well decide which team gets home-field advantage in a potential playoff rematch.