As part of the annual kickoff to the Vermont high school football season, the Free Press headed into the first day of preseason practices.
With 31 teams opening training camp on Monday, the Free Press checked in on two programs eager to get things going: Division II Mount Mansfield in Jericho and BFA-Fairfax/Lamoille, a contender in Division III.
At Mount Mansfield, first-year head coach Reid Rando has officially begun his era at the helm of the Cougars. And at BFA-Fairfax/Lamoille, the Bullets appear ready to rely on their experience in the trenches.
“Our expectation every year is to get a home playoff game for the seniors. That’s what we started with as our goal,” Fairfax/Lamoille coach Craig Sleeman said.
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MMU starts fresh under first-year head coach Reid Rando
Mount Mansfield has been rebuilding in recent years and the 2024 team is eager to pick up some wins under first-year coach Reid Rando. In 2023, Mount Mansfield finished 1-7-1 and failed to make the playoffs.
Week 1 is a date on many seniors’ calendars, as they will face their former coach, Nick Michaud, who is now an assistant coach at Burlington/South Burlington.
“I think we all want to win Week 1, that’s our big goal,” senior QB and LB Brady Morigeau said.
Rando brought in an entirely new coaching staff for the 2024 season, bringing a new energy to the roster that is noticeable. Rando also installed an entirely new culture for the Cougars program, bringing the freshmen and seniors together as one team. Almost all players wore navy blue “Cougars Football” t-shirts and gray shorts, setting a standard for the 39 players in attendance.
This new culture is the biggest difference players have noticed.
“This is one of the first high school varsity teams where I felt like I really belonged and felt like a key player, where I felt almost like I was at home,” said senior WR and DB Jared Wilcox.
“Process over outcome” is one of the main themes Rando is presenting at Mount Mansfield. This theme is to focus on the work done in the week preparing for the game. Rando believes the mentality will translate into goals and then wins, which is what the players want to achieve this season.
The team already faced some adversity in the first practice of the season training in intermittent rain that soaked the MMU lower field.
“They were able to adapt especially with the elements that arrived,” Rando said. “I think it’s a sign that a team is doing great things, because they’re going to face adversity and how are they going to react? And today they were very flexible and adaptable.”
Offensive line play paves the way for BFA-Fairfax/Lamoille
With seniors across the roster and the most in a decade, the BFA-Fairfax/Lamoille co-op program has big plans for the 2024 season.
And it all starts with the offensive line.
All five starting offensive linemen are seniors and weigh at least 225 pounds.
“We have a lot of guys that are stepping up especially on the (line). We have a very active (line), a very smart (line) and some guys who are ready to improvise up front,” senior forward Izaih Erno said during a break during Monday’s practice. “I have high expectations, holding my people to a very high standard.
“There is an energy. These guys are ready to bring it this year.”
A year ago, the Bullets went 4-4 during the regular season and lost in the Division III quarterfinals to Mill River, 10-7.
“I want to make it to the championship,” senior forward Hunter McGillis said. “I love playing football, I’ve played my whole life, since second grade. I love the sport and I love being back here.”
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Sleeman welcomed 34 players, 19 of whom are seniors, to camp on Monday. The total participation is the highest of his 10 years in office. The Bullets hail from Fairfax and Lamoille with additional players through a member-to-member agreement with Peoples.
The back of the players’ practice jerseys says, “Fear Change.” The show is known for its Veer-style attack.
“We are proud of that. I’ve always believed you need an identity as a team,” Sleeman said. “When it’s third-and-1 or fourth-and-1, what are you? And we know we are a Veer team.”
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Contact Judith Altneu at jaltneu@gannett.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter: @Judith_Altneu.
Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter: @aabrami5.
This article originally appeared in the Burlington Free Press: Vermont High School Football: MMU, BFA-Fairfax/Lamoille Day 1 Practice
