Varsity Insider

The Essex Hornets and the Burlington Seahorses meet in a pivotal divisional game at Buck Hard Field Friday night.

The high school football game is particularly important to the Seahorses, who at 3-1 in Division I, are on the outside of the playoff seedings, sitting one back of the final spot.

Regardless of their position, there’s still four weeks left and the Seahorses — a year removed from a winless campaign — have built an impressive resume in the last several weeks leading up to playing the state’s top team.

Here’s a look at BHS’ season results:
Week 1: BHS 26, Brattleboro 21
Week 2: Spaulding 28, BHS 21
Week 3: BHS 49, MSJ 6
Week 4: BHS 21, Rice 0
Week 5: BHS 26, SBHS 0
The all-around play of Cooper Wile has BHS averaging 28.6 points per game while holding opponents to 11 points.

As for Essex? What can you say? Call it the Air-Raid offense or The Max Librizzi Show — whatever you want, because this high-flying, no-huddle spread attack has lived up to its pre-season billing.

Here’s a look at the Hornets’ five wins:
Week 1: Essex 54, MMU 12
Week 2: Essex 66, MSJ 8
Week 3: Essex 33, BHS 10
Week 4: Essex 53, Mt. Anthony 7
Week 5: Essex 34, Brattleboro 12
Offense: 48 points per game. Defense: 9.8.

I got a hold of Essex coach Charlie Burnett Thursday evening and he gave me some individual statistics I thought I’d share with Varsity Insider readers.

Through five games:
QB Librizzi – 106 for 170 (62 percent) for 1,573 yards and 25 TDs and 6 INTs.
WRs Pat Nee (23 catches for 374 yards, 7 TDs); Kevin Jenko (25 catches for 325 yards, 4 TDs); Adam Picard (16 catches for 229 yards, 2 TDs).

Will Essex continue its march, storming opponents with its utempo, fast-moving style? Or Will BHS shake up the Division I landscape with an upset victory?

Game time is 7:30 p.m. Be sure to check our Web site and Saturday’s print edition for coverage of this exciting, mid-season matchup.

End zone: Burnett said Jenko’s 11-catch performance in last week’s win over Brattleboro was a school record. Jenko broke Gerry Greene’s 1971 record of 10 catches. … Starting RB Picard is likely back in the lineup after missing last week’s game while David Valley, a backup WR and starting safety is questionable, Burnett said.

The Essex High School football team is loaded with offensive stars. From its quarterback (Max Librizzi) to its wide-range of tall and athletic receivers, Essex will be scary. So scary, in fact, coach Charlie Burnett and his staff have implemented a no-huddle spread offense that you can read about here.

For a offense that produced nearly 25 points a game during a 7-3 season in 2008 — while using the spread sparingly — the addition of the no-huddle, up-tempo style should be exciting to watch.

So then, what about the defense?

Consider this:
- The Hornets pitched three consecutive shutouts to close the 2008 regular season.
- For the season, including a semifinal loss to Rutland, the Hornets limited its opponents to 12.4 points per game.
- A starter as a sophomore, Jay McCormick is back at linebacker after missing his junior campaign due to hip surgery.
- DE Johnny Joseph is back and he will cause protection problems for the opponent’s QB, coach Charlie Burnett said.

“We are offense-focused program, but that doesn’t mean we don’t look at D at all,” Burnett said. “We had three shutouts at the end of last season, including South Burlington, that we are really proud of.”

Other notes from Essex:
- The team will unveil new uniform tops and a new helmet in Friday’s home game vs. Mount Mansfield. The Hornets are switching from their traditional gold helmet to a navy-colored one. “
- Adam Picard is the first option at running back. Also, don’t be surprised to see a wildcat formation with Evan McCrea, fellow receiver Kevin Jenko mentioned.