Newton, Mass - The Cadets jumped out to a 12-0 lead in the first quarter, ran for 236 total yards and sophomore Dane Pallotto (Westbrook, Conn.)  had two interceptions but it wasn't enough as the Norwich University football team fell, 36-32, in its first Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) contest on the road against Mt. Ida.

Senior quarterback Kris Sabourin (Georgia, Vt.) engineered what would have been the game-winning drive, leading the Cadets 95 yards down the field in just under five minutes to take a 32-29 lead with 31 seconds remaining. Sabourin hit three different receivers on the drive, including the go-ahead touchdown pass to junior Zach Allen (Boston, Mass.) who caught six balls on the day for 86 yards and two touchdowns. The drive was also kept alive when the Cadets ran a fake punt play that saw backup quarterback Jon Queen (Peterborough, N.H.) pick up a first down with an 11-yard run.

However, 31 seconds was not enough for the Cadets defense against Mt. Ida quarterback Scott Drosendahl. Drosendahl threw for 389 yards and four touchdowns on the day and he orchestrated the final drive, which started at his own 34-yard-line, after connecting with freshman Dehjuan Williams for 32 yards, which took the ball down to the Cadets 34-yard-line. Drosendahl then hit Williams again on a 17-yard pass on the following play to set up a first-and-10 for the Mustangs with 12 seconds to go. Head coach Mike Landers elected to not kick the field goal for the tie, instead opting for a chance at the win. Drosendahl dropped back and found Jordan Hyman in the in right corner of the endzone to give the Mustangs the final lead of the game.

Hyman led all receivers, catching seven passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns.

Norwich dominated the first quarter of play as they drove 47 yards down the field off the opening kickoff, utilizing their potent rushing attack and a big 27-yard completion to Allen, before Sabourin kept it himself on third-and-goal from the four-yard-line to give Norwich the lead. They'd miss the extra point to go ahead 6-0.

Norwich would score again in the first quarter as Sabourin found Allen for his first touchdown of the game-- from 13 yards out. Another missed extra point would give the Cadets the 12-0 lead. After Drosendahl found Hyman on a 62-yard screen pass to make it 12-7, the Cadets would get another touchdown from  senior Danny Triplett (Haverhill, Mass.) to take an 18-7 lead. The Cadets would fail to convert the two-point conversion. Triplett finished with 82 yards rushing.

Drosendahl orchestrated another scoring drive and converted the two-point conversion to bring the Mustangs within three with 5:49 left in the half but the Cadets answered with another scoring drive, as junior Mike Cavanaugh (Raymond, N.H.)  punched the ball into the endzone on his only carry of the day, from 10 yards out with 3:12 left. Norwich took the 25-15 lead into the half.

The momentum switched early in the third quarter when punter Drew Banuskevich (Peterborough, N.H.)  had his punt blocked by the Mustangs special teams unit and Trevor Terrell picked up the ball at the Norwich 10-yard-line and returned it for a touchdown that brought Mt. Ida within three at 25-22.

The two quarterbacks exchanged interceptions in the endzone and the score remained 25-22 at the end of three. Mt. Ida would take its first lead of the ballgame with 5:25 left in the game when Drosendahl found tight end Mike Babich from 22 yards out to give the home team a 29-25 lead.

Sabourin then found Allen with :31 seconds to play to put Norwich back on top, before Drosendahl gave the Mustangs the win.

The Cadets were led defensively by Palloto's two picks and Stephen Gilmore's (Norton, Mass.) 8.5 tackles (four for loss) and Luis Delgado's  (Accord, N.Y.) 5.5 tackles and an interception.

Sabourin finished the day 13-21 for 191 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 90 yards. He is now just 65 yards away from breaking the school's all-time rushing record, which he will look to do next week when the Cadets host in-state rival, Castleton State at 1:30 p.m. in the battle for the Maple Sap Bucket.

                                                            --Cadets--