CASTLETON — Rutland High graduate Grady Gallagher was working out with the Vermont team on the natural grass practice field at Vermont sate University Castleton on Wednesday. Within his view, was the New Hampshire squad going through their paces under coach Tim Snow at the game field of Dave Wolk Stadium.

The New Hampshire players practicing on the turf field included Gilford High’s Tim Macaione and Con Val’s Mikey Gonzalez.

The Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl kicks off at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, a rite of summer in the two states since 1954. It is a senior high school all-star football game that has bragging rights at stake for the two states, but it is most important for the money it raises for Shriners Children’s Hospitals.

Saturday, Gallagher will be in the Vermont uniform, Macaione and Gonzalez in the New Hampshire red.

The three have talked during this week long Shrine camp at VTSU Castleton as they prepare for the game.

That is because in a couple of weeks they will all be on the same team. Gallagher, Macaione and Gonzalez are headed to Norwich University where they will be playing for the Cadets.

Gonzalez and Gallagher were at Norwich’s 63-0 Homecoming victory over Maine Maritime last September. Macaione couldn’t make it because Gilford had a game that day.

The camaraderie on campus was a large part of Macaione’s decision to select the Northfield campus as his next home.

It did not hurt that he has a brother already there playing football. Michael Macaione is a 6-foot-2, 260-pound defensive lineman for the Cadets.

“It was the campus and the familyhood of the team. I loved the campus,” Tim Macaione said.

“The coaches were super welcoming,” Gonzalez said of the NU staff.

Not surprisingly, Macaione has heard plenty about Norwich’s Maple Sap Bucket game, the rivalry series with Vermont State University Castleton.

Norwich has dropped the last two games in the series and this pair of freshmen are anxious to see the Cadets end that drought and bring the sap bucket trophy back to Northfield.

“Rivalry games are great. I am very excited for that game,” Macaione said.

Gonzalez is also aware of the importance that gets placed on rivalry contests. When he was playing for ConVal, the games against Monadnock and Milford had that rivalry feel to them.

There are also a couple of other Vermont Shrine players who will be involved in the Maple Sap Bucket game but for the VTSU Castleton side. 

Otter Valley’s Chase Razanouski and U-32’s Drew Frostick will be donning the green of the Spartans. They would love to be a part of a third consecutive Maple Sap Bucket victory for Castleton.

VTSU Castleton head coach Tyler Higley has had an opportunity to speak with both of his incoming freshen during camp this week.

“They are super excited,” Higley said.

Frostick and Razanouski will be receivers for Vermont on Saturday, but when the Spartans’ camp begins Frostick will come in as a strong safety. Razanouski will continue to be a receiver.

Higley knew that Frostick had good speed but he only recently learned just how fast is — he was second at his State Meet in the 100-meter dash.

Frostick is finding the transition from the offense he was in at U-32 to the one that Vermont will operate on Saturday as seamless.

“To me, it is definitely a lot like the one that I play in (at U-32.)  Basically, he said the only difference is the terminology.

Razanouski is finding a much greater difference between the Otter Valley and Vermont Shrine team offenses.

“It is different,” Razanouski said, noting a big adjustment is using hand signals with while not getting in the huddle.

Just another connection in the tight, cozy world of small college football — Vermont Shrine quarterback Colton Lefebvre will be a QB candidate at Plymouth State and will be going against Gallagher, Macaione and Gonzalez in an Exhibition Game in Northfield on Aug. 28.

Shrine Shorts — One of the biggest players in the Shrine Game is New Hampshire lineman Kyle Rostron of Mascoma at 6-foot-8, 320 pounds. He is headed to New England College where one of his assistant coaches will be Rutland native Matt Creed. … The three New Hampshire players from Newport (Brady Minckler, Adrian Sanchez and Aidan Couitt) were easily identified at Wednesday’s practice while wearing Newport practice uniforms. The late legendary Bob Underhill, who coached at Newport for many years, has the unusual distinction of having been the head coach in the Maple Sugar Bowl series for both New Hampshire and Vermont. He was the head man at Mount Anthony when he coached Vermont.