2007 Season Summary

Overall Record: 5-2-1

The varsity football team finished the season with a 5-2-1 record and with a little bit of luck, could have been undefeated. The team was led by three outstanding senior captains: Dominick Bergeron, Blaise Driscoll, and John Hodgkinson. These three young men were the driving force behind the team's winning attitude and the never-say-die approach to practices and games. The seniors on this year's team-Dominick Bergeron, Blaise Driscoll, John Hodgkinson, Ahmad Covington, Jerome Wilkins, Mike Driscoll, Mike Cox, Jeff Miller, Langley Young, Khaseem Greene, Chet Helstowski, Joe D'Amelio, Peter Holst-Grubbe, Ryan Jennings, Drake Deluga, Evan Piercey, Jim Frageau, Matt Conetta, Matt Goods, Drew Dillon, Doug Beyer, Dave Menard, Eric Meyers, Ben Riley, Preston Thompson, and Matt Doyle-were a talented and hard working group that approached each game and opponent with sportsmanship and a strong desire to win. They will all be greatly missed next year, having set a high benchmark of character and discipline as role models for the younger players to emulate as Old Farms football players.

In a tough, hard-fought battle, the Winged Beavers had an early season showdown with defending New England Champion Salisbury. Trailing 21-14 with less than three minutes to play and the ball on their own two-yard line, Avon went to work. On a fourth-and-nineteen situation, Blaise Driscoll hit Khaseem Greene with a 20-yard completion to earn a first down. After completing several passes to John Hodgkinson and Preston Thompson, the team was faced with another fourth-and-long dilemma; however, Driscoll hit Ahmad Covington with a 25-yard acrobatic first down completion. With thirty yards left until pay dirt, Driscoll hit a streaking Greene on the one yard line. Unfortunately, what could have been the setting for a spectacular finish was erased by a penalty. The entire team learned a valuable lesson on this day: in the heat of battle, the entire team must be focused, composed, and prepared to perform at their highest level during crunch time.

The following week the Beavers were defeated by a very good (and eventual New England Champion) Trinity-Pawling team. The Beavers entered the game missing two key players, Mike Cox and Matt Conetta, whose presence would have been instrumental in taking advantage of short yardage situations. This was another tough loss for the Men of Avon, who drove into the red zone five times and came away without scoring any points. What could have been the turning point of the season was lost on our inability to capitalize on the many scoring opportunities we were afforded. The team regrouped and went on a strong run, beating Kent, Loomis-Chafee, and playing Hotchkiss to an 8-8 tie in a torrential downpour. In the highlight game of the season, the entire team played their best football, dominating a very tough Deerfield team to earn a tremendous victory with an added bonus of having knocked their foe out of contention for the New England Football Championship game.

This group of young men will be greatly missed by the football team and the school next year. They have been positive role models and leaders in the community and we wish them luck and success in all of their future endeavors. The future looks bright with some talented players returning next season, and with the development of many young men poised to join the varsity from the very successful junior varsity and thirds teams.

2007 Varsity Football Awards

All Erickson League: Blaise Driscoll, Khaseem Greene, John Hodgkinson, Matt Goods
All New England: Blaise Driscoll, Khaseem Greene
Most Valuable Player: Khaseem Greene
Most Valuable Offensive Player: Blaise Driscoll
Most Valuable Defensive Player: Dominic Bergeron
Pat Teichgraeber Award: John Hodgkinson
Most Improved Player: Jerome Wilkins
Captain's Award: Chris Hampton