-It hadn't happened in nearly five decades, but Vermont defeated New Hampshire for the third straight year with a 19-14 victory in the 72nd Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl on Aug. 2 at Vermont State University Castleton's Dave Wolk Stadium.
The all-time series record in this football game that annually pits the top graduated seniors from the two states is still in New Hampshire's favor at 50-19-2, but the Vermonters now have won three Shrine games in a row for the first time since 1975–77.
For Vermont head coach Bob Lockerby of Bellows Falls, it was his second all-time victory in the Shrine game and he did it by having his two players on the team - Eli Allbee and Carson Clark - play on defense. Allbee and Clark were the starting quarterback and running back, respectively, for the Terriers last season, but Lockerby instead used Allbee as a defensive back and Clark as an inside linebacker.
It was an easy choice for Lockerby as Vermont had two great quarterbacks on its roster - Burlington/South Burlington's Ahmed "Poppy" Diawara and North Country's Hayden Boivin. They alternated at quarterback and provided plenty of offense. Boivin rushed for 122 yards on 16 carries with a touchdown and passed for 34 yards, while Diawara rushed for 82 yards and a touchdown and threw for 56 yards with a touchdown pass.
Vermont took a 19-0 lead in the first half as New Hampshire struggled to get its offense going. Diawara got Vermont's first score with a 69-yard run. The point after kick failed, but Vermont had a 6-0 lead with 1:47 left in the first quarter.
Boivin engineered another Vermont touchdown with a 14 play, 80-yard drive in the second quarter. Wide receiver Jack Cady, Brattleboro's lone representative in the Shine Game, had a pair of catches in the scoring drive - a 10-yard catch and a 6-yard catch on fourth down that kept the drive going. Boivin then finished it with a 17-yard TD run. The point after kick was good and Vermont had a 13-0 lead with 3:47 remaining in the first half.
After the New Hampshire offense was stymied by the Vermonters, it was Diwara's turn to make some magic as he found St. Johnsbury's Carter Bunnell in the right corner of the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown with 29.6 seconds left. A two-point conversion try failed, but Vermont took a 19-0 lead into halftime.
New Hampshire's offense got going in the second half. Bow quarterback Brady Lover and Pinkerton wide receiver Jameson Isaac did most of the heavy lifting. Issac set up the first touchdown when intercepted a Diawara pass at midfield and he returned it to the Vermont 2-yard line. On the next play, Lover ran it in for a touchdown. The extra point kick cut the Vermont lead to 19-7 with 7:36 left in the third quarter.
The momentum began to shift as Vermont suddenly was on its heels. The offense that was so dominant in the first half was struggling, and Lover got the Granite Staters a little closer with a 72-yard TD strike to Issac. With the extra point, suddenly the Vermont lead was down to 19-14 with 9:54 to play.
Boivin helped shift the momentum back on Vermont's next possession with three straight first-down runs of 16, 18, and 11 yards, but Lover, playing on defense, forced a fumble and recovered the ball deep in Granite State territory with 6:37 left in the game. The Vermont defense was tested on New Hampshire's final drive, but held on to preserve the win.
And now, the 2024-25 high school sports season has officially ended. Practices for the upcoming 2025 football season are set to begin on Aug. 11 in Vermont.
Living Memorial Snow Sports receives Athena Giving Circle award
• Living Memorial Park Snow Sports Inc., the folks who run the Brattleboro Ski Hill, has been named the 2025 recipient of a $5,000 grant from the Athena Giving Circle, a group of area women who pool resources to support one local nonprofit organization each year. This is Athena's sixth annual award.
Speaking for the Athena group in a news release, Gail Nunziata said, "We are delighted to honor LMP Snow Sports for their stewardship of the ski hill at Living Memorial Park. We admire their dedication to creating low-cost opportunities for local children to learn to ski and snowboard and to enjoy fresh air, exercise, family and friends right here in town. We salute them for the way they maintain their aging equipment, keeping the hill groomed and lifts running safely against amazing odds."
Living Memorial Park Snow Sports has existed as a 501(c)(3) since 1997. From snowmaking to grooming, from selling hot cocoa to loading the T-bar, the Brattleboro Ski Hill is a 100% volunteer-run operation.
"The transformation of Living Memorial Park into a vibrant winter playground wouldn't be possible without the donors and partners who understand how important access to the outdoors is for our community," said Todd Fahey, vice-president of Living Memorial Park Snow Sports. "The ski hill would not be able to operate without generous support of donors such as the Athena Giving Circle."
Nunziata said the Athena Giving Circle "is excited to explore the valuable work done by local nonprofit organizations. We recognize the impact these groups have on our community. Our awards are a tribute to their efforts."
Giving Circles come in all sizes, from managing investments of hundreds of thousands of dollars to pooling donations of whatever one can afford. For groups who would like advice on how to organize a Giving Circle on the Athena model, contact Nunziata at [email protected].
For more information about getting involved with Living Memorial Park Snow Sports as a donor or a volunteer, visit brattski.org.
Retreat Farm Ramble is Aug. 16
• The second annual Retreat Farm Ramble Bike Ride, set for Saturday, Aug. 16, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., takes riders through scenic southern Vermont. Experience farmlands, covered bridges, and rolling hills with rest stops at iconic local farms, including Scott Farm and Bunker Farm. Riders can grab a bag at each stop and shop the farm stands; they'll bring your farm treats back to the Retreat Farm for you.
After the ride, stick around for the post-ride party at Retreat Farm with live music by Modern Fools, the Vernon Creamie food truck, lawn games, and Vermont craft beer in the North Barn. Their Calf Barn will also be open for you to spend time with their furry farm residents.
There will be a raffle for a gift basket filled with Retreat Farm Market picnic-ready goods, featuring a handcrafted wood cutting board made by Livin Roots Woodworks. The basket is valued at $250, and tickets cost $20 each or three for $50.
All raffle proceeds support Retreat Farm and their work stewarding 11 miles of trails and more than 500 acres of forest, farmland, and waterways.
Check-in time for registered riders for the Ramble is 8 a.m. at the Retreat Farm; day of registration is also available. All riders will receive a complimentary "swag bag" and fuel up with complimentary bagels and coffee before the rides begin.
Riders have a choice of three routes. A 50-mile ride begins at 8:30 a.m., while the 30-mile ride starts at 9 a.m., and the 15-mile ride kicks off at 10 a.m. The return celebration and after party will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For more information, and to register, go to retreatfarm.ticketspice.com/ramble-2025.
Stratton Mountain, Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports to merge
• Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports and the Bart Adaptive Sports Center, which have offered programming at Stratton Mountain since 2018, recently announced their intent to join forces through a planned merger.
According to a news release, the proposed combination "reflects a shared commitment to empowering independence for individuals with disabilities through year-round access to sports and outdoor recreation."
"Our adaptive program has been growing each season thanks to the staff and volunteers of Bart Adaptive, and we look forward to welcoming Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports to Stratton Mountain," said Devon Cavagnino, Stratton's director of skier and rider services. "This nationally recognized program builds on the tradition of providing access to winter mountain sports here at Stratton with our ideal teaching terrain and a convenient location for registration, and we look forward to building adaptive mountain bike programming."
Vermont Adaptive athletes and representatives will be at Stratton on Aug. 25 for the Stratton x VMBA Day with downhill mountain bike events, including a Strava challenge. For more information and registration, visit stratton.com/things-to-do/events/stratton-x-vmba-day.
Vermont Adaptive is the largest year-round adaptive sports organization in the East. In 2024, it served over 1,200 participants through 5,300 outings. Since 2017, its Veteran Ventures Program has provided more than 9,000 activities and 35+ multi-day retreats to veterans and service members.
State park access program is a big success
• Back in May, Vermont Parks Forever, the only nonprofit foundation for Vermont's state parks, created a first-in-the-nation, privately funded pilot program that provides free day-use entry to the 55 Vermont state parks for more than 100,000 income-eligible Vermonters during the 2025 park season.
In partnership with Vermont State Parks, the Department for Children and Families' Economic Services Division, and the Department of Health's WIC Program, this initiative is available to families and individuals receiving services through the Economic Services Division and WIC.
The program has been quite successful, with the parks averaging a total of about 2,400 visits per week. For more on how to use this pilot program visit vermontparksforever.org/paf-pilo.
Senior bowling roundup
• Week 14 of the spring/summer season of the Brattleboro Senior Bowling League at Brattleboro Bowl on July 31 saw Team 7 (48-21) have a 4-1 week to recapture first place. Slo Movers (46.5-23.5) had a 2-3 week to move back into second place. Cyclones (41.5-28.5) remains in third place, followed by Dims (39-31), Wayne's World (36-34), Leftovers (32-38), Having Fun (30-40), I.D. Care (27-43), 4 Queens (25.5-44.5), and Strikers (24.5-45.5).
Pat Bentrup had the women's high handicap game (257) and Pam Greenblott had the high handicap series (669). Warren Corriveau Sr. had the men's high handicap game (254), while Doug Switzer had the high handicap series (705). Cyclones had the high team handicap game (931) and series (2,575).
Corriveau had the men's high scratch series (622), with games of 233 and 201, while Chuck Adams had a 591 series with games of 212 and 204. Robert Rigby had a 555 series with a 214 game, Milt Sherman had a 542 series with a 220 game, Mike Pavlovich had a 527 series with a 200 game, Kevin Napaver had a 518 series with a 190 game, Jerry Dunham had a 500 series with a 191 game, and John Laamanen had a 195 game.
Greenblott had the women's high scratch series (477) and Bentrup had the high scratch game (180). Carol Gloski had a 173 game, and Greenblott rolled a 167.
Randolph T. Holhut, deputy editor of this newspaper, has written this column since 2010 and has covered sports in Windham County since the 1980s. Readers can send him sports information at [email protected].
This Sports column by Randolph T. Holhut was written for The Commons.