Box Score Canton, N.Y. – Sophomore WR Chris Denton
had seven receptions for 169 yards and three touchdowns to lead the
Norwich University football team to a 25-14 victory over St.
Lawrence University Saturday at Leckonby Stadium. The win is
the 10th straight victory for the Cadets and pushes their
record to 2-0 on the young season. Fellow sophomore QB Kris
Saboruin had 223 yards though the air, including all three of
Denton's touchdowns, to go along with 65 yards on the
ground.
The Cadets opened the scoring just 2:28 into the first quarter
when Denton took a Sabourin pass 27 yards into the St. Lawrence end
zone. NU was unable to convert the point after and had to settle
for a 6-0 lead.
The Saints (2-0) were able to answer back a little more than
three minutes later. Following a Norwich fumble at its own
four-yard line, SLU was set up with first-and-goal. St. Lawrence
needed only three plays to capitalize on the miscue, with Stephen
Buskey hitting Andy Spandoni with a short pass in the end zone.
Matt Dodge converted the extra point to put the home team in the
lead, 7-6, with 9:06 to go in the first quarter.
The Cadets were able to break through again when they forced a
punt and got the ball near midfield. The Cadets then went on a
14-play scoring drive that took 6 minutes and 24 seconds off the
clock, capped by six-yard TD run by senior RB Kyle Marzeoti with 49
seconds left in the half.
Norwich went for two to try to push its led to seven
points, but Sabourin's pass attempt fell incomplete. The
result was a 12-7 NU lead going into halftime.
Neither offense could gain any traction for the majority of the
third quarter, with the teams combining for four punts and a
turnover-on-downs.
Denton again was the catalyst for the Cadet offense, this time
coming through with a 68-yard catch and run for a touchdown.
Sabourin's pass for the two-point conversion was broken up on
a nice defensive effort by one of the St. Lawrence defenders, and
the Norwich lead was 18-7 with 2:23 left in the third.
The Saints came back with a scoring drive of their own. After a
long kickoff return to the NU 49-yard line, SLU proceeded to march
the remainder of the field for a touchdown. The series was capped
off by a Jeremy Ramos 17-yard TD run on fourth-and-one. The score
trimmed the Cadet's lead to four, 18-14, with the almost the
entire fourth quarter still to play.
St. Lawrence forced Norwich to punt on its next possession,
giving SLU the ball at its own seven-yard line. The Saints moved
the ball to their own 30 before stalling. On fourth-and-ten they
tried their second fake punt of the afternoon, but the NU special
teams unit would not be fooled twice and made the stop to force the
turnover-on-downs.
Six plays later, Sabourin hit Denton for his third touchdown of
the day to seal the victory. Junior K Long Ding nailed the extra
point to account for the 25-14 final.
Senior LB Rocco Dimeco had 12 tackles, including a sack, to lead
the Cadets defensively. Freshman DB Neal-Pierre Louis and
senior DL Zach Sucharski added seven and six tackles
respectively.
Norwich, led by Denton and Sabourin, racked up 402 yards of
total offense, while the defense only gave up 199 yards. The Cadets
won the battle of possession, holding the ball for over 35
minutes.
The Cadets next game will be at home when they host Hartwick on
Saturday, Sept. 18, at Sabine Field. Kickoff is set for 1:30
p.m.