Box
Score
THROGGS NECK, N.Y. - James Spanopolous rushed
for 106 yards and two touchdowns, and Michael Smooke accounted for
two scores of his own, as N.Y. Maritime defeated Norwich, 34-20, in
a non-conference football game Saturday afternoon at Reinhart
Field.
N.Y. Maritime (2-2) scored 20 unanswered points in the fourth
quarter to erase a six-point deficit and defeat Norwich for the
first time in series history.
N.Y. Maritime scored first as the Privateers took the opening
kickoff and marched 40 on nine plays to take a 7-0 lead.
Spanopolous capped the drive with a two-yard touchdown run.
Norwich (2-2) came right back on its opening possession with a
touchdown drive of its own. The Cadets' march, which covered 72
yards on eight plays, was cashed in when sophomore QB Guerschom
Jean-Gilles went on top and found senior WR Nate Stroffoleno with a
41-yard touchdown pass. NU's extra point attempt was missed, and
the Cadets trailed 7-6 with 7:55 remaining in the opening quarter.
N.Y. Maritime extended its lead to 14-6 just before halftime as
Smooke hooked up with James Kozlawkowski for a six-yard touchdown
pass.
Norwich crept to within two points midway through the third
quarter when Jean-Gilles connected with senior TE Adam Orfield for
a seven-yard touchdown pass. The Cadets attempted a two-point
conversion, but they were turned away and faced a 14-12 deficit
with 4:47 to play in the third quarter.
Just 43 seconds later, senior LB Jim Kiritsy gave the Cadets
their first lead of the game as he scooped up a fumble and
scampered 31 yards for a touchdown. This time, the Norwich
two-point conversion was successful and the Cadets established a
20-14 lead at the 4:03 mark.
Norwich held its lead until midway through the fourth quarter,
when N.Y. Maritime exploded for 20 points over the game's final
6:25. Smooke started the outburst with a two-yard touchdown run.
The Privateers' extra point attempt was not converted, and the game
was tied.
Then, on NU's ensuing possession, Ryan Leary intercepted a
Jean-Gilles pass and rumbled 55 yards for the go-ahead touchdown.
Spanopolous added a two-yard touchdown run in the final minute to
account for the final score.
Junior RB Kyle Marzeoti led the Norwich offense, carrying the
ball 24 times for 119 yards. Jean-Gilles completed 12-of-26 passes
for 136 yards and two touchdowns. He was also intercepted three
times on the afternoon. Stroffoleno paced the Cadets' receiving
corps with three receptions for 50 yards and the one touchdown.
Freshman WR Adrian Dantzler hauled in four passes for 37 yards.
Kiritsy had a big day defensively for the Cadets, as the
fourth-year player made a team-best 10 tackles. Freshman DB Charles
Stiles and sophomore LB Rocco DiMeco each made nine stops for
Norwich.
Norwich opens its 2008 Empire 8 schedule on Saturday, Oct. 4,
when the Cadets travel to Alfred, N.Y., to tangle with Alfred
University. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.
