BRANDON – The Otter Valley Union High School football team scored seven times in the first half on the way to a 77-24 Division III win over visiting Mount St. Joseph on Saturday.
The OV offense, including its second string after the break, was never stopped, and Vytas Nielson also returned an interception for a score as the Otters celebrated their Homecoming Day.
   Tailback Mike Winslow scored touchdowns on runs of 10 and 34 yards and added three two-point conversions. Winslow rushed 11 times for 120 yards before taking a seat in the second half.
   Quarterback John Winslow connected on scoring passes of 19 and 12 yards to running back Carson Leary, tossed a 34-yard TD pass to tight end Eric Stage, and kicked a 21-yard field goal. In all, Winslow completed 11 of 13 passes for 148 yards.
   The OV backups dominated the second half. Dillon Baldwin-Costa scored twice, from 1 and 12 yards out, Jove Bautista added a 29-yard touchdown run, and Brent Nickerson found paydirt from six yards out. OV rushed for 376 yards total.
   OV’s starting defense held MSJ to seven first downs and 128 yards from scrimmage. According to the Rutland Herald Otter coach Jim Hill again took the opportunity to lobby for four football divisions instead of three after the game. He believes several struggling programs, including MSJ, would benefit from playing each other.
MSJ quarterbacks Collin Gilbert and Kyle Cassarino each threw two touchdown passes to account for the points for the 1-4 Mounties.   
   The Otters improved to 2-2 (2-1 in D-III) and will visit Poultney (2-3) on Saturday. None of the Otters’ three remaining foes, all league opponents, has a winning record after this past weekend.