Vikings vs. Hilltoppers Kick Off

Details: Created on Monday, 19 October 2015 15:18; Written by Abbey Greene

LYNDON - A historic rivalry was in full swing Saturday on the Robert K. Lewis field for the annual St. Johnsbury-Lyndon Institute football faceoff. It was a blowout in favor of the Hilltoppers over the Vikings, 64-0. However, for many, it is not about the score.

“It really brings the communities together,” says LI fan Seth Cornell. “Not solely because of the rivalry but because we have to work with each other. It doesn’t happen in a lot of other places quite like it does here. I think it is a very special thing and I would not trade it for the world.”

It was the 111^th game ever played against each other. Over the 111 games, there have been 61 wins for St. Johnsbury, 44 for Lyndon Institute, and 6 ties.

“Everyone supports their town, St. Johnsbury or Lyndonville. They have all kinds of signs, floats, and celebrations,” informs Bud Courser, another Lyndon fan.

Community members have been going to these special games for years and years, and the fans remain loyal.

“I graduated in fifty three and have been here every year except two,” remarks Lyndon Institute supporter Donald Simpson.

In addition to the importance the game held for the communities, the faceoff also allowed St. Johnsbury’s Coach Rich Alercio to do something that does not happen often in sports. For the last game of the season, some Hilltopper athletes got their first chance to show their town what they can do.

“We put a lot of kids in,” Alercio says. “Every senior played, and I would like to think that every senior had an impactful play at some point in time. By getting new people in, it becomes very exciting. Everybody gets excited when the new kid who doesn’t get to play a lot makes a play.”

The last time there was a sixty point win was back in 1921, when Lyndon Institute beat St. Johnsbury 69-0.

This recent win has qualified the Hilltoppers to compete in the DI football playoffs, and they will be playing in their quarterfinal match against the undefeated two-time champion Middlebury Tigers on Friday.

LI VS ST J from NewsLINC on Vimeo.