Berkshire Bowl: Unexpected loss to Yellowjackets

FALLS VILLAGE —Despite more than 300 yards of offense, the Housatonic/Wamogo Mountaineers came up short in the 24th annual Thanksgiving Day Berkshire Bowl, as the Yellowjackets’ Kyle Jones scored two touchdowns to lead Gilbert/Northwestern to a 13-8 victory.

The Mountaineers had numerous chances to score, but turnovers and some key Yellowjacket defensive stands limited Housy to one touchdown, a 45-yard run by Tanner Brissett late in the third quarter.

“This loss is my responsibility,� lamented Coach Deron Bayer after the game.

“I feel that the kids are 5-0, and I’m 0-6,� he said, referring to the season’s final record. The win by Gilbert gave both teams identical 5-6 records, and evened the overall Berkshire Bowl record to 12 victories apiece.

As is the case in most football games, there were a few critical plays that determined the outcome.

In the third quarter, Gilbert, leading 7-0, mounted a long offensive drive that ate up 10 minutes on the clock.

At Housy’s 5-yard line, the Yellowjackets attempted a pass in the end zone, which Will Kennedy picked off and returned 54 yards into Gilbert territory. Tanner Brissett then broke off his long yard run for the touchdown, and found Kennedy open in the end zone for the critical two-point conversion pass, giving the Mountaineers an 8 -7 lead going into the fourth quarter. The defense held the ’Jackets on the next possession, forcing them to punt, and the Mountaineers, with all the momentum going their way, started to drive from their own 2-yard line.

It was then that a disputed fumble, the result of a late whistle, gave the ball to Gilbert on the Mountaineers’ 15-yard line. The Yellowjackets capitalized on the opportunity, as Jones blasted into the end zone from 1 yard out to score his second touchdown of the game.

With plenty of time left on the clock, Housy took the kickoff and moved down the field. But the Yellowjackets’ defense was up to the challenge, and stopped the Mountaineers at NW/Gilbert’s 31-yard line, forcing them to turn the ball over after a fourth and 11 pass play failed. The Yellowjackets ran three times, gaining 10 yards and one more first down, which allowed them to run out the clock, ensuring the win.

“I told the boys that football is a great game because it teaches you to deal with adversity, not only on the field, but in life itself,� said Coach Bayer as he reviewed the game. “We go into every game to win, but sometimes you can do almost everything right and still lose.�

For 15 players (Sam Schwartz, Will Kennedy, Tom Minuto, Mike Hogan, Pat Kelleher, Trevor Watts, Nic Cook, Cole Liebrock, Connor Johnson, Ed Ustico, Roger Derosier, Tyler VanDuyne, Gian Lodevole, Jake Blass and Sam Cadman) this Berkshire Bowl marked the last time they will be wearing the blue-and-yellow of the Housatonic/Wamogo Mountaineers.

Their contributions helped the team post 11 wins in the past two seasons, the best two-year total in 15 years. Next year, Coach Bayer and his staff will have a daunting task in replacing them, but there is a nucleus of talented players to build a team around.