SPRINGFIELD, Vt. - Windsor football was down 7-0 before its offense touched the ball on Friday night. Springfield’s Braiden Wheeler returned the opening kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown, and the Yellow Jackets spent the rest of the first half fighting their way back into it.
Jack Burke scored Windsor’s touchdown after a turnover, and the fifth-seeded Yellow Jackets went into halftime trailing just 7-6. Fourth-seeded Springfield took over from there, scoring 32 unanswered points after the break to win the quarterfinal 39-6 at Brown Field.
The Cosmos’ pass rush set the tone in the second half, with steady pressure on Windsor quarterback Nolan Weld every time he dropped back to throw.
It was a reversal of the first meeting. Windsor won 15-12 at Springfield on Oct. 9, part of a late-season surge in which the Yellow Jackets allowed 47 points over a four-game stretch.
Windsor finishes 4-4, two more wins than last year’s 2-7 team. The Yellow Jackets opened the season with a 54-0 win over Missisquoi Valley, scored 46 points against Milton in September and closed the regular season with back-to-back wins, the second a 32-18 victory at Woodstock on Oct. 24 that evened the all-time series between the neighbors.
Springfield moves on to the semifinals at top-seeded Otter Valley on Friday, Nov. 6.
Other relevant play on Friday, October 30:
Woodstock 13 at Otter Valley 22 Top-seeded Otter Valley, which beat Windsor 10-0 on Oct. 3, held off Woodstock and hosts Springfield in the semifinals.
Mill River 20 at Mt. Abraham 56 Mt. Abraham rolled past Mill River, which beat Windsor 32-14 on Sept. 19.
That wraps up the day for Windsor High School sports. We’ll see you next time!