New Hampshire has absolutely owned Vermont on the gridiron in the Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl for decades. But don’t let that fool you; the Green Mountain State has carved out some seriously wild wins, and now fans are voting to pick the best one ever. The Burlington Free Press reporters Alex Abrami and Judith Altneu narrowed down 10 nominations from Vermont’s 19 victories, and you can still get your vote in before the poll closes at 9 p.m. this Thursday, July 30. We’re talking about comeback victories, ending long skids, and crazy shootout triumphs.
Vermont’s Early Statement Wins and Shutouts
Think about this: Vermont snagged its very first victory in the second Shrine game back in 1955, battling serious adversity to win 12-6. Their training camp got cut short because George Daley got polio, and Bennington’s Art Gage played just days after his mom passed away. Gage still came through with a crucial block for their first touchdown. Vermont controlled that game, out-gaining New Hampshire 202-74 in yards and dominating first downs 11-3. Talk about grit! Then, in 1959, as a two-touchdown underdog, Vermont flat-out *dominated* New Hampshire, shutting them out in what was their biggest margin of victory until 2016. Middlebury’s Jim Billings scored on the fifth play from scrimmage, and they barely let New Hampshire past their own 41-yard line. The Green Mountain State absolutely smoked the Granite State, 248-55 in yards. That’s a beatdown, plain and simple.
Epic Comebacks and Late-Game Heroics
If you want drama, look no further than 1973. This game had the Shrine’s closest margin of victory, with Vermont trailing 21-9 with just over three minutes left. Montpelier quarterback Rex Martin, who’d missed most of camp with an injury, suddenly went off. He engineered a quick 58-yard scoring drive, then Middlebury’s Rod Bicknell snagged a pick. Martin launched a 45-yard bomb to Rutland’s Robbie Gilligan to get inside the 10, and those two hooked up again on fourth-and-goal from the one with a ridiculous five seconds left for the 22-21 win. Unbelievable! And who could forget 1988? Vermont hadn’t won a Shrine game since 1980, and they were down 21-7 at halftime thanks to some fumbles. But Essex’s Don Hemenway and MSJ’s Dave Parento both got into the end zone in the third quarter. Rice’s Greg Poulin then drilled a 21-yard field goal with five seconds left for a 24-21 triumph, ending an eight-year drought. That’s how you come back from the dead!
In 1977, Vermont snatched its third straight title with a 14-6 victory over New Hampshire in front of a record 18,000 fans. They were down 6-0 at halftime but then held their opponents to just six yards rushing and zero passing in the entire second half. South Burlington quarterback Warren Brooks to Mount St. Joseph’s Mike Muscatello on a 30-yard play-action pass sealed the deal. These moments are why we watch sports, right? You’ve got until Thursday night to cast your vote for Vermont’s greatest win. This year’s Shrine showdown is set for Saturday, August 1, so go vote and help crown the all-time champ!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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