Box
Score
UTICA, N.Y. - Utica scored 22 unanswered points
in the final 10:46 to defeat Norwich, 28-25, in an Empire 8
Conference matchup on Saturday afternoon at Charles A Gaetano
Stadium. The Pioneers scored the game-winning points with just 19
seconds to play.
The Cadets (2-7, 0-5 Empire 8) led 25-6 early in the fourth
quarter, but they could not hold off the Pioneers (3-6, 2-3 Empire
8) en route to their 19th straight conference loss.
Utica's rally began when Cody Elliott returned a kickoff 82
yards to cut the Norwich lead to 25-13 at the 10:46 mark. Then,
after a Zach Angelos interception, the Pioneers went 29 yards in
four plays to make the score 25-20 with 4:59 left on the clock.
Michael Clark's one-yard touchdown run capped the brief drive,
which pulled Utica to within five points.
Another Angelos interception set up Utica's final drive, when
the Pioneers marched 85 yards in 12 plays to score the game-winning
touchdown. Clark found Tyler Maligasi for a two-yard touchdown pass
to put Utica on top 26-25. Clark and Elliott hooked up for the
two-point conversion, which accounted for the final margin.
Norwich looked to be in control of the game after a pair of
Angelos touchdown passes early in the fourth quarter gave the
Cadets a seemingly comfortable 25-6 lead at the 11:01 mark. Angelos
hooked up with Emilio Martinez from 29 yards out at the 13:14 mark,
before finding Derek Hungerford on a one-yard strike with just
11:01 to play.
Utica scored the only points of the first quarter, as Casey
McNulty booted through a 33-yard field goal at the 9:12 mark.
Norwich got on the scoreboard with 5:00 to play in the second
quarter when Angelos threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Nate
Stroffoleno. The Cadets increased their lead to 13-3 on E.J.
Flannigan's 31-yard interception return at the 3:25 mark. Utica
trimmed NU's lead to 13-6 on McNulty's 41-yard field goal just
before the first half expired.
Angelos finished the game-his first career start-with 127
passing yards and three touchdowns. He also threw three
interceptions. Darnell Jackson had a solid game carrying the ball
for the Cadets, gaining a game-high 129 yards on 23 carries.
Jackson now needs just 45 yards to break the Norwich career rushing
record. Stroffoleno led the receiving corps with three receptions
for 59 yards and the one touchdown.
Defensively, NU was led by Richard Cumby, who made a game-high
13 tackles. Reza Afsarmanesh made 10 stops, including 4.0 tackles
for loss. The Cadets came into the game ranked tied for 12th
nationally in turnovers gained, and they came up with a pair of
interceptions today. They have now forced 28 turnovers this season.
Norwich closes out its 2008 campaign on Saturday, Nov. 15, when
the Cadets host Empire 8 rival Springfield at Sabine Field. Kickoff
for the Senior Day game is slated for 1 p.m.
