Varsity Insider

This year’s Fearless Free Press Football Forecast comes to an end with our picks in Friday’s paper, but it’s time for us to get a little more fearless with our predictions for the high school championship games.

Here are selected staffers’ predictions for the title games and their reasoning behind them:

(Check back later as more of our staffers chime in. …)

Division I

No. 1 Essex (10-0) vs. No. 3 Rutland (7-3)

Kevin Commo: Essex 33, Rutland 20. The Raiders have been there too many times not to make a game of it, but Max Librizzi and the rest of the Essex offense are too explosive to stop, especially on artificial turf.

Alex Abrami: Essex 33, Rutland 14. There’s just too much sting in the Hornets’ attack for the Raiders. Essex’s prolific offense will pull away in the second half, much like the teams’ regular-season meeting.

John A. Fantino: Essex 40, Rutland 10: Max Librizzi has another monster game as rapid-fire Hornets breeze to first title in 17 years.

Mike Donoghue: Essex 35, Rutland 19.  “Air” Librizzi and company are too much in the passing game for any defense.  Rutland coach Mike Norman always has his team prepared for a title game, but it won’t be enough this time.

Division II

No. 1  Colchester (10-0) vs. No. 3 Champlain Valley (9-1)

Kevin Commo: Colchester 19, CVU 7. In a matchup of hard-nosed teams, Colchester’s punishing ground game proves the difference.

Alex Abrami: Colchester 14, CVU 6. By Devon Grammo’s standards, his rushing line in last week’s semifinal win was below average. Grammo’s effort in the final will likely be the difference.

John A. Fantino: Colchester 21, CVU 6: Like it has done much of the season, Colchester jumps out to quick lead, squashing CVU’s hopes of another upset.

Mike Donoghue: Colchester 21, CVU 14. Should be a great game. CHS wants to go undefeated and CVU wants its first title.  Wet weather on grass could make a difference.  The Lakers, winless as freshmen, get it done.

Division III

No. 1  Windsor (8-2) vs. No. 3 Springfield (8-2)

Kevin Commo: Springfield 20, Windsor 18. Back-to-back wins over archrival Bellows Falls show surging Springfield is ready to defend its title.

Alex Abrami: Windsor 24, Springfield 21. Windsor makes up for 2007, 2008 title-game losses with a narrow win over rival Springfield.

John A. Fantino: Windsor 27, Springfield 24: Behind experience and a high-powered offense, the Yellow Jackets avenge last year’s title-game defeat, but by a much closer margin than their regular-season win over Springfield.

Mike Donoghue: Windsor 26, Springfield 14. Windsor has been a bride’s maid for two years, but get it done this time in the battle of Windsor County.  Gavin Callahan is too much for Cosmos.

The top two seeds (Otter Valley and U-32) were eliminated from the Division II high school field hockey tournament. That leaves No. 3 Windsor and No. 4 Milton at home for its semifinal games.

I was at Milton’s quarterfinal victory over Spaulding on Friday. Lots of positives for the Milton side: strong defense, controlling midfield and a finishing offense.

As mentioned in the game story, Milton has made a dramatic turnaround. The Yellowjackets went through winless seasons in 2007 and 2008. After Friday’s win — its first Div.-II playoff triumph since 1995 — the Yellowjackets can continue its “Cinderella” story, as coach Tiffany Stuart said, in Tuesday’s home semifinal game against Woodstock.

It will be Milton’s first semifinal at home since its 1982 championship season.

Windsor, which won three Div. II titles in the 90s’ and early 2000s, will play Springfield.

For Friday’s field hockey playoff roundup, click here.

For complete tournament results, click here.

The threat of the swine flu seems to be on the  minds — either in the front or the back — of most people these days, especially school officials.

Some schools have taken steps to try to ensure there is no outbreak of the flu in the classroom and precautions have even extended to the playing field.

The Vermont State Athletic Directors Association discussed the issue during its Fall meeting this week in Montpelier. Windsor Athletic Director Bob Hingston raised the issue, noting that it seems unhealthy or inconsistent that some athletes were taking out their mouthpieces and shaking hands with the opponent.

U-32 Athletic Director Amy Molina said she would hate to see games end without some kind of acknowledgement of sportsmanship by both teams, even if it is a chant.

Following Champlain Valley’s 2-0 win over Colchester recently , the two teams lined up for the traditional post-game hand shake designed to promote sportsmanship among student-athletes.

Instead the CVU players raised their elbows and exchanged elbows with the Lakers.

CVU coach Kate McDonald said she saw it as a way to try to help ensure some players, who might be ill, did not pass it along.

That idea gets a “High Five,” or a “High Elbow” from this corner. You can never be too safe.