New Hampshire has dominated Vermont during the long-running Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl. But Vermont has its share of moments over the seven-plus decades facing its Twin State rival on the gridiron.
The Green Mountain State claimed its first victory in 1955. Vermont’s top seniors also have carved out comeback wins, ended long skids to New Hampshire and seized shootout triumphs.
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But what’s Vermont’s greatest win in the Shrine game? Burlington Free Press reporters Alex Abrami and Judith Altneu plucked out 10 deserving nominations of the 19 victories to date. Now it’s your turn, the reader, to cast your vote in the latest BFP summer ballot powered by Delta Dental.
2020 file: Top moments in Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl history
Voting is unlimited until the poll closes at 9 p.m. on Thursday, July 30. This year’s Shrine showdown is slated for Saturday, Aug. 1.
Read on and then vote away!
1955: Vermont picks up its first win over New Hampshire
In the second Shrine game, Vermont battled through adversity to gain a 12-6 victory and even the series. Vermont’s training camp was cut short due to a team member, George Daley, coming down with polio, while Bennington’s Art Gage played just days after the death of his mother. Gage had a crucial block on his team’s first touchdown and Vermont controlled in yards gained (202-74) and first downs (11-3).
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1959: Vermont blanks New Hampshire in convincing victory
Despite being a two-touchdown underdog according to the Free Press, Vermont dominated New Hampshire in what would be the Green Mountain State’s biggest margin of victory until 2016 (see below). Middlebury’s Jim Billings scored on the fifth play from scrimmage and Vermont only allowed New Hampshire to reach its 41-yard line. Vermont out-gained the Granite State 248-55.
1973: Vermont rallies for dramatic win in final minutes
The Shrine’s closest margin of victory came in the form of Vermont’s improbable, late-game comeback. Trailing 21-9 with just over three minutes left in regulation, Vermont turned to Montpelier quarterback Rex Martin, who missed much of training camp with an injury. Martin engineered a quick 58-yard scoring drive. Then Middlebury’s Rod Bicknell picked off a New Hampshire pass. Martin tossed a 45-yard bomb to Rutland’s Robbie Gilligan to get inside the New Hampshire 10; the two hooked up again on fourth-and-goal from the 1 with 5 seconds left for the 22-21 win.
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1977: Vermont clinches third straight title with comeback
In front of a record crowd of 18,000 at Dartmouth College’s Memorial Field, Vermont roared in the second half for a 14-6 victory, its third straight and sixth in the last seven Shrine games. The Granite State actually took a 6-0 halftime lead, but the Green Mountain boys held its opponent to six yards rushing and no yards through the air in the final two quarters. The game changed on South Burlington quarterback Warren Brooks’ play-action pass to Mount St. Joseph’s Mike Muscatello for a 30-yard touchdown.
1988: Vermont claims first Shrine win since 1980
Without a Shrine victory since 1980, Vermont had to reach down for a second-half comeback to end the drought. A pair of Vermont fumbles led to a 21-7 halftime lead for Ne Hampshire. But Essex’s Don Hemenway (7 yards) and MSJ’s Dave Parento (TD) reached the end zone on TD runs in the third quarter before Rice’s Greg Poulin booted a 21-yard field goal with 5 seconds left for a 24-21 triumph.
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1998: Vermont ends decade drought
For the first time in 10 years, Vermont defeated New Hampshire with a 21-13 win over its rivals. Brattleboro’s Ben Gilbert starred throwing three touchdowns and 210 yards on nine completions. Middlebury’s T.C. Palmer caught four passes for 117 yards, including the game-clinching touchdown in the fourth quarter. Vermont scored 21 unanswered points to stun New Hampshire after the Granite state scored 13 points in just 12 minutes.
2000: Vermont wins shootout in record-setting game
The 2000 Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl set a record with the teams combining for 1,004 yards of offense which saw Vermont earn a 47-40 win over New Hampshire. The 47 points by Vermont set a new scoring record for the Green Mountain State in the annual Maple Sugar Bowl. Mount St. Joseph quarterback Mike Keenan shined for Vermont who completed 30-of-49 passes for 352 yards and six touchdowns. Burlington’s Willie Kinley caught three touchdowns.
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Vermont snapped its 15-year skid in the Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl with a historic 50-2 win over New Hampshire. It was the Green Mountain State’s largest margin of victory in the series’ 63-year history. Fair Haven’s Ryan Alexander threw for 148 yards and five touchdowns, all coming in the first half. Vermont’s defense wrecked havoc, recording five sacks, forced two fumbles and intercepted three passes in a dominant showing all around.
Vermont earned three straight Shrine Maple Sugar Bowls wins, for the first time in 40 years, after earning in a 24-13 win in the 2018 edition of the annual contest. Burr and Burton’s Jay McCoy supplied a pick-six and rushed for the go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter. The starting quarterback, Windsor’s Seth Balch, sealed the win with a pair of touchdown rushes in the fourth quarter. Vermont’s defense held New Hampshire to 209 yards of offense.
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Colchester’s Caleb LeVasseur brought a hook-and-ladder play to the Shrine Bowl and Vermont successfully executed the play in a 28-6 win over New Hampshire. Champlain Valley’s Max Destito threw a pass to Tristan Evans who flipped the ball to LeVasseur for a 67-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. The momentum flipped in favor of Vermont right before halftime with Essex’s Tanner Robbins scoring a 73-yard pick-six.
Vote for Vermont’s greatest win in the Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl
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