Video Highlights by Tanner Acebo, Multimedia Specialist

NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Norwich University football team scored 27 unanswered points, including 24 in the second half to rally to a 27-6 victory over Gallaudet University on a cold, wet afternoon on Sabine Field at Haynes Family Stadium.

Freshman running back Patrick Brown (Pooler, Ga.) rushed for 168 yards and three touchdowns, while senior kicker Wesley Medeiros (Gilford, N.H.) kicked two field goals to set the new program record for career field goals with 36. 

Brown accounted for over half of Norwich's 296 yards on the ground, highlighted by a 70-yard touchdown run in the last minute of the fourth quarter to help lead Norwich (3-4, 3-1 ECFC) to its third straight victory and first home win of 2016.

Gallaudet (1-6, 0-4 ECFC) went up 6-0 on a blocked punt and ensuing recovery in the end zone by Montray Roberts with 5:25 to go in the first quarter. Neither side was able to get much going on offense as the first half featured just 184 yards of total offense between both teams.

Norwich was able to cut into the Bison lead with 3:42 left in the second quarter when he nailed a season-long 43-yard field goal to tie Rich Donahue '89 for the program's all-time field goal record.

The Cadets finally took their first lead of the game with 1:27 to go in the third quarter when Brown scored his first of three touchdowns by punching it in from four yards out to cap off an impressive 12-play, 90-yard drive that took up 4:18. Medeiros added a successful PAT to make it 10-6 Norwich. 

Brown had the big play of the drive with a 21-yard rush to the Gallaudet 38 that was then followed by a Bison personal foul to move the ball down to GU's 23. Senior Pierre Noel (Manchester, N.H.) scampered 15 yards after that to get it to the Gallaudet 8-yard line. Then Brown took over with a pair of four-yard rushes to score his third touchdown of the season.

The Cadets' defense forced Gallaudet to go three and out on its next drive and then the offense came back out to march down the field for a four-play, 46-yard drive, punctuated by a 32-yard touchdown run up the middle by Brown for his second of the game to push the lead to 17-6 after a Medeiros PAT with 14:18 to go.

Medeiros set the new program field goal record with 4:47 to go in the game with a 40-yard kick that split the uprights to push the NU lead to 20-6.

Brown capped the scoring with his 70-yard touchdown run where he stopped on a dime at the Gallaudet 40 and evaded two Gallaudet defenders that collided, allowing him to the run the rest of the way untouched for the impressive score. 

Brown's 168 yards were a new single-game best and he increased his touchdown total on the season to five. 

The Norwich defense allowed Gallaudet to gain just 178 yards on the day. Senior linebacker Cody Lindell (Cranston, R.I.) was everywhere all day, recording nine solo tackles and three assisted tackles for a team-high 12. He also had one pass breakup.

Fellow senior Benjamin Hummer (Annapolis, Md.) picked up 11 tackles on the day. Classmate Jake Apthorpe (Honeoye Falls, N.Y.) had six tackles, including three for a loss and one sack.

Junior Angelo Cofield (Lithonia, Ga.) and senior Adam Cox (Audubon, N.J.) each recorded a sack as well for the Cadets' defense. Senior Tyler Oppelt (Latham, N.Y.) had an interception to round out the Norwich defensive leaders. 

Gallaudet's Kahan Louissaint led the Bison with 38 yards on the ground. Timel Benton threw for 64 yards on 7-for-18 passing. 

Norwich's Philippe Bazinet (Otterburn Park, Quebec, Canada) threw 17 yards and rushed 10 times for 46 yards. 

Gallaudet's defense was led by Solomon Worthey, who recorded nine tackles and a sack. Sean Fenton had eight tackles, including a forced fumble, fumble recovery and an interception.

Norwich is tied for second place in the ECFC standings with Mount Ida at 3-1. Husson is still undefeated at 4-0. The Cadets travel to SUNY Maritime next Saturday to take on the Privateers.