The best Vermont high school football games to watch in Week 2

The Champlain Valley at Essex Division I showdown headlines Week 2 of the 2024 Vermont high school football season .

But the contest between the Redhawks, the 2022 champions, and the Hornets, the 2021 winners, isn't the only best bet among this weekend's 14 matchups across the state (Woodstock plays out of state at Peru, N.Y.).

It's still very early, of course, but half the teams are looking to avoid 0-2 starts. U-32, Burlington/South Burlington and BFA-Fairfax/Lamoille are among the programs coming off impressive Week 1 victories and are home for key divisional tilts.

For more on this weekend's slate of the most intriguing games, read on below. Enjoy!

FRIDAY, SEPT. 6

Champlain Valley (1-0) at Essex (1-0)

Game time: 7 p.m.

▶ An early season matchup between two of the top three teams in the BFP's Week 1 power rankings will allow football fans to see which Chittenden County school has the upper hand. Both teams are coming off major wins against other D-I teams in Week 1 and have strong running backs in Nolan Walpole for CVU and Ethan Hemingway for Essex. Expect to see lots of rushing. CVU has knocked Essex out of the playoffs in each of the past two seasons, including last year's 45-0 rout in the quarterfinals.

Brattleboro (0-1) at Rutland (1-0)

Game time: 7 p.m.

▶ Jayden Graham ran wild for Rutland scoring two touchdowns in the first six minutes of the second half to break a 20-20 tie and give Rutland separation from Mount Anthony. Brattleboro enters Week 2, 0-1 after failing to complete a miraculous comeback attempt when an interception ended the promising drive.

Everything Vermont high school football: Here is your one-stop shop for the 2024 season

Bellows Falls (0-1) at U-32 (1-0)

Game time: 7 p.m.

▶ U-32 appears to be a dominant team in D-II football again after rolling past North Country, the 2023 D-II champion. Aiden Boyd led the Raiders rushing for 190 yards on 26 carries. U-32 will have its hands full against regular D-II powerhouse Bellows Falls, which lost a narrow game to Lyndon after the Terriers failed to convert a 2-point conversion.

St. Johnsbury (0-1) at Burlington/South Burlington (1-0)

Game time: 7 p.m.

▶ Behind Ahmed Diawara's 222-yard, five-touchdown performance, the SeaWolves pulled away in the fourth quarter from D-II Mount Mansfield in their opener. A home win against St. Johnsbury, which saw starting QB Carter Bunnell leave early with an injury in its Week 1 defeat to Essex, would go a long way for the cooperative program searching for consistency and more victories.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 7

Hartford (0-1) at Burr and Burton (1-0)

Game time: 1 p.m.

▶ The reigning D-I champion Burr and Burton survived an early season scare. The Bulldogs almost blew a two-touchdown lead, but survived after Thomas Sheldon picked off the Brattleboro quarterback late in the game. Hartford continues its season with another tough road game, looking to score points for the first time in 2024. This is a rematch of last year's title game.

Mill River (0-1) at BFA-Fairfax/Lamoille (1-0)

Game time: 1 p.m.

▶ A year ago, Mill River left Fairfax with a last-second field goal for the D-III quarterfinal triumph. Surely, the Bullets' cooperative program remembers that result and will be motivated to earn a measure of revenge. Last week, Fairfax/Lamoille dispatched Otter Valley with a complete team effort. The Minutemen lost a back-and-forth contest to D-II Mount Abraham.

Fearless Forecast predictions for Week 2 Vermont high school football

This week's statewide media predictions and Week 1 standings are available for Free Press subscribers. Click the link below to read the Week 2 poll.

Fearless Free Press Football Forecast: Week 2 predictions, Week 1 standings

How to watch Week 2 Vermont high school football games

The NFHS Network is the place to stream Vermont high school football. Click link below to see the schedule for Week 2 games on NFHS Network.

Watch Vermont high school football

Week 2 VT high school football schedule on NFHS Network

Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com . Follow him on Twitter: @aabrami5 .

Contact Judith Altneu at jaltneu@gannett.com . Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter: @ Judith_Altneu .

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This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: The best Vermont high school football games to watch in Week 2