Mill River sets up rematch with OV | Sports | rutlandherald.com

Oct 21, 2024

Sports Editor

NORTH CLARENDON — The Battle for the Otter Creek trophy is staying in North Clarendon.

The Mill River football team captured a 35-26 victory over rival Otter Valley in the closing game of the regular season.

The win locked the Minutemen (3-5) into the No. 5 seed in the Division III tournament and the Otters (3-4) into the No. 4 seed.

It also means the two will meet again this upcoming week in the Division III quarterfinals, this time at Otter Valley's Markowski Field.

Mill River held a 14-13 lead in the closing minute of the first half, but it looked like the Otters were going to grab the momentum back heading into the locker room with the ball inside the red zone.

Minutemen senior Ethan Severy wasn't going to let that happen.

Severy jumped a route, picking off a Zac Dragon pass and taking it back nearly 95 yards for a touchdown with 43 seconds left in the half.

"It was one of the biggest things that's happened to me in my career so far," said Severy of the interception. "My head was empty. I saw the ball, caught it and ran."

Otter Valley had a chance to respond, but the Otters fumbled the ensuing kickoff, which was recovered inside Mill River territory by MRU sophomore Daniel Usher.

The Minutemen took advantage, getting the ball into the red zone on a Severy rush, before Toby Pytlik rushed for a 13-yard touchdown with 19 seconds left in the half.

Less than 30 seconds changed the complexion of a game that was looking like it may be nearly a deadlock or an OV lead if the Otters had finished off that drive.

"Those are big plays," said Mill River coach Zach Allen. "Ethan Severy showed up on Senior Day today with a pick-6. That's huge. That's a memory he'll remember forever."

Those two quick touchdowns finished off a run where Mill River scored 28 unanswered points.

Otter Valley was in total control early on, scoring on the first offensive play of the game where Dragon hit Isaac Whitney on a screen pass that went for a 60-yard touchdown down the left sideline.

Two OV drives later, the Otters extended the lead to two touchdowns with 42-yard rushing score for Whitney.

Mill River began its road back with a long drive to end the first quarter that bled into the second. On the second play of that quarter, Pytlik threw a perfect floating ball over junior Artie Treanor's shoulder for a 25-yard touchdown.

The Minutemen, who had blocked the point after attempt on OV's second touchdown, grabbed the lead with 3:53 left in the half with a Brandon Therriault 17-yard rush up the middle and a successful extra point.

The rough end to the first half looked to be in the past with how Otter Valley came out in the second half.

After forcing an MRU punt, the Otters punctuated their first drive of the second half with a 5-yard touchdown pass from Dragon to Chase Razanouski.

OV pulled within two points on its next drive, which was finished off by a 50-yard touchdown pass by Dragon to sophomore tight end Max Potter.

The Otters looked to have all the momentum, but the Minutemen dug deep.

After a facemask call put Mill River at midfield, Severy broke off a 29-yard rush to bring the Minutemen right outside the red zone. Four plays later, Sasha Auer connected with Pytlik on a 13-yard touchdown pass for some much-need insurance.

"The boys got the tempo up and bettered their mindset to grind out that touchdown," Allen said.

Both defenses were strong throughout the rest of the game. The Minutemen forced a turnover on downs, before Dragon picked off a Pytlik pass for OV. Otter Valley turned the ball over on downs again, but Whitney got them the ball back with a fumble recovery.

A Therriault interception proved to be the final defensive blow that secured the Mill River victory.

It was Senior Day for Mill River, so the team honored Pytlik, Auer, Severy and Eli Phelps.

Auer passed for 62 yards, while Pytlik passed for 44 for Mill River. Pytlik had 120 rushing yards and Therriault had 44 rushing yards. Pytlik also also a team-high 54 receiving yards.

Dragon had 311 passing yards. while Razanouski had 122 receiving yards on 8 receptions and Whitney had 111 receiving yards on 5 receptions. Whitney had 106 rushing yards as well.

Otter Valley outgained Mill River on offense throughout the game, but those turnovers at inopportune times did them in.

"We were outplayed all over the field," said Otter Valley coach Jim Hill.

His Otters will get their chance for revenge in the Division III quarterfinals, and this time, it will be on their own turf.

Follow on Twitter: @AAucoin_RH

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Sports Editor