Despite injury to star quarterback, St. Johnsbury relies on defense for title-game berth
ST. JOHNSBURY — Top-seeded St. Johnsbury's vaunted offense made mistake after mistake during the opening quarter of the Division I high school football semifinals vs. No. 5 Burlington/South Burlington/Winooski on Saturday, Nov. 7. Three red zone trips resulted in coughing up possession three times: A turnover on downs plus two interceptions spoiled what appeared to be sure-fire touchdowns. "We were struggling. It seemed like we weren’t going to score," St. Johnsbury coach Rich Alercio said. "I was thinking we were going to win this 3-0." But the Hilltoppers are more than just an explosive passing attack. Their defense showed up — and showed out — while their running game couldn't be contained. And who set the tone for both units? Kingston Carey. More: What we learned in Week 10 of the 2026 Vermont high school football season The junior ended a scoreless stalemate with a pick-six early in the second quarter and racked up two more TDs and 140 yards of his game-high 154 yards before the halftime break, guiding the Hilltoppers to a 35-6 victory over the SeaWolves at Fairbanks Field, sending the Northeast Kingdom program back to the Division I title game for the second straight year. The
