Box Score 

NORTHFIELD, Vt. - Freshman RB Danny Triplett ran for 116 yards and a touchdown, and sophomore RB Andrew Fulford rushed for 114 yards and a score to help lead the Norwich University football team to a 28-6 victory over Mount Ida College in an Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) game Saturday afternoon at Sabine Field.

Freshman QB Kris Sabourin added 78 yards on the ground for the Cadets (1-3, 1-0 ECFC), who gained 336 rushing yards. The Norwich defense came up big again this week, holding the Mustangs (1-3, 1-1 ECFC) to just 92 rushing yards and 251 yards of total offense.

Sophomore LB Joseph Gumberwicz made some huge plays for the defense, intercepting two passes, recovering a fumble and producing 1.5 quarterback sacks. Senior DE Reza Afsarmanesh had another solid game defensively for NU, producing team bests in tackles (eight), quarterback sacks (2.0) and tackles-for-loss (4.0).

Gumberwicz's fumble recovery late in the second quarter set up Norwich at the Mount Ida 24-yard line, and directly led to the Cadets' first touchdown. A pair or runs by freshman RB Orwin Etkins gave NU a first-and-goal at the Mustangs' seven-yard line and the Cadets scored two plays later when Sabourin found freshman TE Dennis Pritchard with an eight-yard TD pass. Ryan Kelly's extra point attempt sailed wide and Norwich had to settle for a 6-0 lead with 58 seconds remaining in the half.

Mount Ida's next offensive play from scrimmage was a pass that Gumberwicz intercepted and returned 23 yards to the Mustangs' 18-yard line. Triplett scored on the next play, taking a hand off and bouncing outside for an 18-yard touchdown scamper. Sabourin connected with junior TE Daniel Pellegrini on the two-point conversion to give the Cadets a 14-0 halftime lead.

After a scoreless third quarter, Norwich put the game away early in the fourth with two touchdowns in a span of 39 seconds. Etkins put the Cadets on top 20-0 at the 11:48 mark when he scored on a one-yard TD run. A 28-yard pass from Sabourin to freshman WR Chris Denton, which gave NU a first-and-goal at the Mount Ida one-yard line, set up the score.

A quick three-and-out by Mount Ida gave Norwich the ball at its own 35-yard line, and Fulford wasted little time extending the Cadets lead as the second-year back took a handoff and exploded 65 yards up the middle for a touchdown. Sabourin hit senior WR Kevin Ober on the two-point conversion to give Norwich a commanding 28-0 advantage with 11:09 to play in the contest.

Mount Ida broke up the shutout midway through the fourth quarter when freshman QB Scott Drosendahl found junior RB Paul Shaughnessy for a 20-yard touchdown pass.

Sophomore RB Johrone Bunch, who rushed for 150 yards on 24 carries, led the Mustangs. He did the bulk of his damage in the first half, as he gained just 26 yards after halftime. Drosendahl hit on 6-of-9 passes for 85 yards and the one touchdown.

Norwich continues its brief two-game homestand on Saturday, Oct. 3, when the Cadets take on Becker College in an ECFC contest. The contest, which falls on Homecoming/Alumni Weekend, is slated to kick off at 2 p.m. Full videostream coverage is available free of charge by logging onto www.NSNSports.net.