How close is Windsor to history? Dive into the longest win streaks in VT football history

Streaks are meant to be broken. But also celebrated.

Windsor High School football chases its 29th straight win on Saturday against Woodstock and a third consecutive Division III title next month. Windsor’s dominance begs the question, where does the Yellow Jackets’ perfect stretch rank all-time in Vermont high school football?

Using the Vermont Principals’ Association sanctioned state tournaments, which were established in 1970, as a launching point, we untangled the Vermont high school football history web as it has been weaved.

This means that Middlebury’s perfect stretch from 1967-69 doesn't count, but Tiger fans are certainly well represented. As is Hartford, which holds two of the longest streaks the state has witnessed.

But East Montpelier claims the most prodigious rule as U-32 dictated D-IV for 36 consecutive games from 2000-03.

Jinxes aside, the Yellow Jackets’ spell at the top hasn’t been seen in the state in nearly a decade.

For a look at seven enduring peaks, read on below for the top Vermont high school football win streaks.

U-32 (2000-03)

Before the Raiders’ program-defining stretch of 36 consecutive wins, U-32 lost the 1999 championship to Montpelier. But that was a preview of the new kids on the block in the league’s 8-on-8 format. The 48-12 defeat ignited seven straight title appearances for the Raiders, including four banner-hanging years.

It began with U-32 trailing to Mount Abraham 12-8 at halftime of the 2000 championship. The Raiders used power football and secured six turnovers, including a 30-yard interception return by Iain Lanza that started the third quarter comeback for a 24-14 title win. Nate Picard’s 6-yard touchdown rush and the ensuing 2-point conversion gave the Raiders a 16-12 lead with three seconds left in the third frame. Jason Carriveau led the Raiders with 26 carries for 110 yards.

The Raiders then enjoyed back-to-back perfect seasons before falling to Mount Abraham 36-8 in the D-IV championship on Nov. 7, 2003.

Then U-32 coach Mike Law told the Free Press after the loss: “They’ve (Mount Abraham) been trying to do this for four years and they finally accomplished it.” The Eagles’ Scott Curtis had 17 carries for 211 yards and two touchdowns to usurp the kings.

Woodstock (2011-14)

U-32’s ride was threatened eight years later when Woodstock went on a 33-game win streak from 2011-14. The 2011 team went 9-0 after losing its first two games. Injuries, player inexperience and Tropical Storm Irene factored into the Wasps slow start, but they capped the first season with a 27-7 championship win over Windsor.

Ed Doton rushed for 255 yards and three scores as the Wasps grabbed their eighth crown in program history. They added a pair of 11-0 seasons in 2012 and ’13 and began the next fall perfect through two weeks. But fell to U-32 24-7 on Friday, Sept. 12.

The Raiders used an onside kick and scored on back-to-back possessions in the third quarter leading to the game’s final margin. Colby Brochu ran for 120 yards on 24 carries in the win.

Middlebury (2013-15)

Doc Collins Field and the Middlebury Tigers program that traces back to 1957 has seen plenty of success. But nothing compares to the 2013-15 squads that seized 32 consecutive wins in D-I.

The Tigers first 11-0 season ended with a 26-6 victory over South Burlington, the first title for the Tigers since 2002. Austin Robinson compiled 150 yards and three scores on the ground and threw for a fourth touchdown. They followed that year with another 11-0 season in 2014 and again Robinson led the Tiger faithful with a three-touchdown performance in a 28-7 win over St. Johnsbury in the championship.

"It's awesome. Coming into this it's like we've just got to prove ourselves one more time. One more time, every single week," Robinson told the Free Press in 2014. "To finally get it done, look back on it, yeah, we can finally say we had a great season — 22-0, that's special."

Free Press file: Middlebury football reigns again in Division I

The Tigers went 10-0 the following year, making it back to Rutland’s Alumni Field but were unseated by the Raiders 35-7. Rutland quarterback Andy Kenosh was 16-of-21 for 265 yards with three scores to secure the title.

"This will sting, and that's good," former Middlebury coach Dennis Smith told the Free Press after the loss. "It's OK. If it doesn't sting, it really didn't mean anything. We all like to win but all good things come to an end."

Gallery: 2014 Division I football championship

Windsor (2021-present)

Middlebury leads us into Vermont’s current longest streak. Windsor has romped D-III from the start of the 2021 season en route to a 28-game win streak.

After consecutive perfect seasons and title wins of 53-7 (2021) and 35-21 (2022) over BFA-Fairfax/Lamoille, the Yellow Jackets are 6-0 heading into the final week of the regular season. They currently hold the No. 2 spot behind Woodstock (6-1).

Quarterback Maison Fortin, who orchestrated both perfect seasons for Windsor, told the Free Press after winning in 2022: “It’s awesome. I never thought I’d be here, I’d never thought we’d be here. We just had a lot of heart. We wanted it more than anyone else in this league."

Windsor hasn’t allowed more than 16 points in a game this season.

Hartford (1991-94)

The 1991-94 Hurricanes enter with a 28-game stretch of their own after winning the last three games of the ’91 season and running a perfect 22-game sequence the next two years.

The 1993 D-IA championship, which was Hartford’s fourth title win in a row, was a 14-8 final against Fair Haven. The Hurricanes’ winning score was a 37-yard touchdown pass from Jarrett Clifford to Jeff Moreno with 5:27 left in the fourth quarter. Jeremy Durand tallied the 2-point conversion for the game’s final margin.

The Free Press simply coined Hartford’s stretch, “The Streak” which ended after three games into the ’94 season when Essex downed the champs 27-22.

Former Hartford coach Mike Stone told the Free Press after the loss: “It’s what we need. Maybe now we’ll pay some attention to detail. You can tell ‘em and tell ‘em and show ‘em and show ‘em. Now we’ll get a little focus.”

Hartford (2010-13)

The Hurricanes also own a 27-game sequence from 2010-13.

They won the final four games of the 2010 fall (33-0 final over BFA-St. Albans in the championship) and then went 22 straight before managing just one win in 2013. Hartford’s 23-0 loss came to Middlebury, which started the aforementioned run, on Friday, Sept. 6.

Hartford coach Mike Stone in 2013: “They beat us and they beat us up front and to their credit.”

Austin Robinson managed two fourth-quarter touchdowns to down the Hurricanes, a feat that no Vermont team could claim in nearly three years.

Middlebury (1978-81)

The final streak belongs to the Tigers. A victory string of 26 games from 1978-81, which was the then longest in the state’s history. Middlebury rallied for a 13-12 win over Bellows Falls for the 26th after trailing by two touchdowns late in the first half.

The streak was snapped by Rutland the following week on a rain-soaked Tiger Field field on Friday, Sept. 25. Rutland’s Jeff Eells scored on a 1-yard touchdown rush in the fourth quarter to fashion the upset against the Tigers 16-12. Middlebury spotted Rutland three key fumbles and had 75 yards in penalties.

Former Tigers’ coach Hubie Wagner to the Free Press in 1981: “I thought we played well enough to win. But we hurt ourselves with mistakes.”

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Contact Jacob Rousseau at JRousseau@gannett.com. Follow on Twitter: @ByJacobRousseau.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Vermont high school football: Longest win streaks in state history