Courtesy Norwich Sports Information
NORTHFIELD – Running backs Quincy Williams (Brossard, Quebec) and Sam Chaves (Alfred, Maine) rushed in a pair of touchdowns but it wasn’t enough as the Norwich University football team fell to St. Lawrence, 42-28, on Saturday afternoon at Sabine Field.
The loss drop the Cadets to 0-2 overall while St. Lawrence picked up its first win of the season for the 1-1 record.
The Cadets struggled to find the end zone in the first half as the Saints scored 28 unanswered points, taking advantage of two forced turnovers against Norwich. Late into the second quarter, the Cadets marched down to the Saints’ 14 yard line before being forced to attempt a 24-yard field goal, which was blocked by St. Lawrence’s junior linebacker Jason Leigh, keeping NU off the board at the half.
St. Lawrence continued to rack up the points in the second half as Leigh’s 25-yard interception return for a touchdown extend the Saints’ lead, 35-0.
On the next kickoff, Norwich went back to work and marched down the field for 66 yards before running back Chaves punched through the defensive line for the 1-yard rushing touchdown to put the Cadets on the board in the third quarter with 11:19 to play.
St. Lawrence would score its final touchdown on a 1-yard rushing touchdown from Mitch Gallagher for 42-7 score. The Cadets managed to find the cracks through the Saints’ defense once again, producing 70 yards in nine plays before Williams scored his first touchdown on an 8-yard run for the 42-14 score.
The Cadets would retain the ball once again after a successful on-side kick, throwing off the Saints’ momentum. The fourth quarter would start with Williams breaking through the scrum before scoring his second touchdown of the season on a 31-yard run.
St. Lawrence was not fooled on the next kickoff, setting up for another potential on-side kick by the Cadets, but Norwich would kick it far and away. The Saints looked to burn the clock but would be forced to punt the ball away after NU’s defense stopped the chain from moving after three downs.
After pounding the ground for yards, Chaves would score his second touchdown of the season on a 2-yard run that resulted in 75-yards and 10 plays for the 42-28 score. St. Lawrence would retain the ball once again and winded down the clock for the final score and its first win of the season.
Williams would rushed for 133 yards on 24 attempts, while quarterback Philippe Bazinet (Otterburn Park, Quebec) ran for a total of 60 yards and threw for 139 yards (10-21) with two picks on the day.
Chaves and junior wide receiver Pierre Noel (Manchester, N.H.) would lead the receiving corps with a combine 106 yards on Chaves’ 54 yards and Noel’s 52.
Defensively, freshman Joshua Johnson (Trophy Club, Texas) and junior Benjamin Hummer (Annapolis, Md.) led the
Team with seven tackles each with Hummer recording six solos. Juniors Tyler Bates (Marblehead, Mass.) and Jake Apthorpe (Honeoye Falls, N.Y.)would pick up a sack and two tackles for losses on the day.
Next Saturday, September 19, Norwich travels to Worcester, Mass. to play Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) at 1:00 p.m.