NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Norwich University football team was saddled with a 40-17 loss by the Worcester Polytechnic Institute on Saturday at Sabine Field. Norwich falls to 0-3 on the year while WPI remains without a defeat in three non-league matches on the season. 

Despite posting 18 first downs on the afternoon, Norwich yielded a whopping 530 total yards of offense to the Engineers. In addition to 151 net rushing yards on the ground, WPI quarterbacks threw for five touchdowns and averaged an outstanding 27.1 yards per pass completion. 

Norwich held the time of possession advantage in the contest, but the Engineers' offense was simply more efficient – WPI was able to gain 8.3 yards of offense per play. Additionally, the Engineers forced the Cadets to punt 10 times while holding the hosts to only eight third-down conversions on 23 total chances. 

The game started off somewhat strong for the Cadets as senior Wesley Medeiros (Gilford, N.H.) booted a 52-yard punt that was downed at the WPI one yard line. After a one-yard rush by WPI's Blake Rice, senior Tyler Bates (Marblehead, Mass.) came up large by sacking the Engineers' signal-caller in the end zone, resulting in a safety and two points for Norwich. 

Dan Eckler took over for WPI under center later in the opening quarter and connected with Corey Coogan on a 41-yard pass that resulted in the Engineers' first lead of the game, a 7-2 advantage. Eckler took it home himself later in the contest, rushing home for the one-yard score only 2:22 into the second quarter. Later in the half, Eckler would connect with Alex Domond on a 68-yard touchdown to create a 21-2 advantage for the visitors. 

Following a three-and-out by Norwich with just over two minutes expired in the second half, Eckler needed only two plays to put his team ahead, 28-2, as he threw a 21-yard completion to Mitjon Celaj to create a hefty advantage for his squad. A 32-yard pass from Eckler to Brandon Eccher later in the third quarter would result in yet another score, creating a 34-2 lead. 

Norwich would score on yet another safety in the fourth quarter as a fumble by Eckler would be kicked through the back of the end zone, tallying an easy two points for the Cadets. Receiving the ball with 11:31 left in regulation time, Norwich signal-caller Philippe Bazinet (Otterburn Park, Quebec, Canada) would pilot a 12-play, 60-yard drive that ended with a touchdown thrown to fellow countryman Trystan Colaire (Pickering, Ontario, Canada). 

The Cadets defense produced a three-and-out, allowing Bazinet to throw his second touchdown of the game on the next possession – freshman Dayvon Medina (Lauderhill, Fla.) hauled in a 19-yard pass for his first collegiate touchdown with 5:23 to go in regulation time, cutting his team's deficit to 34-17. 

Rice would re-enter the game for WPI at quarterback, picking up another score for the Engineers as Coogan would secure his second touchdown of the contest. Forced to throw down by a 40-17 margin, the Cadets would throw five-straight incompletions on their final six offensive plays as the Engineers coasted to the victory. 

In total, WPI quarterbacks threw for a combined 379 yards and connected on five touchdowns. Cumulatively, the Engineers' triumvirate was 14-for-21 on their passes, throwing only one interception and taking only two sacks on the afternoon. 

Freshman Patrick Brown (Pooler, Ga.) was his team's leading rusher, producing 45 yards on the ground. Senior Quincy Williams (Brossard, Quebec, Canada) gained 36 yards on eight rushes, averaging 4.5 yards per carry, while Bazinet would record his team's longest run of the afternoon, a 21-yard sprint. 

Senior Grant Troxell (Flint, Texas) set a career-high mark with 90 yards through the air on 11 catches. Freshman Connor Bourque (Goffstown, N.H.) also set a career-high record, returning four kickoffs for 129 total yards that included an impressive 44-yard return. He also caught four punts for 13 yards on the afternoon. 

Defensively, senior captain Benjamin Hummer (Annapolis, Md.) led the way with nine total tackles and also joined Bates with one sack on the afternoon. Hummer also posted a team-best two tackles for a loss of nine combined yards while his fellow team captain, Jepthe Soulouque (Everett, Mass.), posted a block on special teams for the Cadets. 

Brian Murtagh was all over the field for WPI, producing 14 total tackles that included four for a loss of eight yards. He also returned an interception for a team-best 15 yards on the day. Sean McAllen highlighted a strong running game for the Engineers, carrying the ball 21 times for 85 net yards. 

After its bye week, Norwich will welcome the Mustangs from Mount Ida College on Saturday, Oct. 1 for a 1:30 p.m. tilt at Sabine Field.