WOODSTOCK, Vt. — The Woodstock Wasps are finals-bound once again and have a chance to repeat as VPA Division III champions after a commanding 49-0 victory over the Otter Valley Otters in a semifinal matchup at home Friday night.
Just about everything clicked for the Wasps. Offensively, they scored on the ground and through the air. Defensively, they intercepted Otter Valley senior quarterback Zachary Dragon five times—three of which were returned for touchdowns—and forced one fumble.
Senior wide receiver and defensive back Asher Emery completed a rare hat trick, scoring on a rush, a reception, and an interception return. Senior flanker and linebacker Riley O’Neal added two rushing touchdowns and a pick-six, while sophomore running back and defensive back Cole Little intercepted two passes, returning one for a score.
“I was confident going into the season that we could have a chance if we got things rolling,” Woodstock head coach Ramsey Worrell said of his team’s opportunity to repeat. “Then we got things rolling, and we’re on a nice little streak. I think the kids are playing good football right now.”
The Wasps will face Bellows Falls in next weekend’s final. The Terriers’ only loss this season came in a 60-52 shootout against Woodstock on October 24.
“They’re a really good football team, really good coaches, and they’re going to have their kids ready,” Worrell said. “And we’re going to have to be ready. We think when we play our best football, we can play with anybody.”
Woodstock wasted no time setting the tone Friday night. After forcing Otter Valley to punt on its opening drive, the Wasps marched 61 yards on 10 plays, capped by a 1-yard touchdown run from O’Neal to take a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter.
Otter Valley responded by driving deep into Woodstock territory, but the Wasps recovered a fumble. They capitalized quickly, scoring six plays later on a 10-yard rushing touchdown by Emery to make it 14-0.
That score was the first of three straight blows delivered by Emery in the second quarter. After a defensive stop, senior quarterback and defensive back Aksel Oates connected with a streaking Emery downfield for a 43-yard touchdown. Woodstock missed the extra point, leaving the score 20-0 with eight minutes left in the half.
On Otter Valley’s next possession, Emery intercepted Dragon and raced 90 yards for a touchdown. O’Neal converted the two-point try, giving the Wasps a 28-0 lead.
“Back-to-back it’s in the cards, so I’m excited,” Emery said after the game. “I think all the boys were hungry for a win here.”
Woodstock kept piling on. O’Neal added a pick-six on the Otters’ next drive to make it 35-0. Little then intercepted another pass, which set up a 2-yard rushing touchdown from O’Neal.
Trailing 42-0, Otter Valley kept throwing and paid for it again, as Little grabbed his second interception of the night and returned it for a touchdown. With 3:24 left in the first half, the Wasps led 49-0.
That score held for the rest of the game. The second half, played under a running clock, featured one more highlight: a Woodstock interception by sophomore running back and linebacker Taylor Underwood.
After the win, the Wasps gathered for one final walk down the field—a postgame tradition that carried special meaning for the seniors playing their last home game.
“Been on the team for four years, been doing it for four years,” Emery said. “To finally be a senior and do it myself kind of gets me a little emotional. Just happy to be there, happy to do it, happy to be part of this team.”
Woodstock’s bid for back-to-back titles is scheduled for Saturday at South Burlington High School in South Burlington. Game time will be announced.
https://vnews.com/2025/11/08/woodstock-rout-otter-valley/
