CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Norwich University football team scored on their first six drives of the game holding a lead going into the fourth quarter, but were unable to hang on in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play Saturday at MIT, falling 48-37.

The Cadets had two receivers break the 100-yard mark in the contest with Haleola Thomas (Waianae, Hawaii) had seven receptions for 131 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while Trevor Chase (Eliot, Maine) added eight catches for 102 yards and a touchdown of his own.

Mitchell Theal (Elma, N.Y.) went 18 of 33 passing for 265 yards, completing four touchdown passes. Jehric Hackney (Jerico, Vt.) added 59 yards on the ground including a rushing touchdown.

Defensively, Zev Motew (Highland Park, Ill.) recorded 11 tackles, including six unassisted. Noah Knight (Rochelle, Ill.) and Nick Works (Sanford, Maine) combined to record a sack.

MIT opened the game with a 12 play, 69-yard drive that was capped by a 10-yard touchdown pass by Oakley Dehning to Ethan Ardolino to put the Engineers up 7-0.

The Cadets would respond with a 5:50 drive that went for 59-yards in 15 plays, resulting in a 33-yard field goal by Zach Buchy (Suffolk, Va.).

After forcing a three-and-out by the Engineers, Norwich used a seven-play drive that included a 38-yard completion to Chase, to take a 10-7 lead after Theal found Andrew White for a 15-yard touchdown pass.

MIT responded with a touchdown on their ensuing possession before the Cadets marched down the field on a methodical 11 play, 71-yard drive to retake the lead with 50 seconds remaining in the first half. Going into halftime hold the 17-14 advantage.

Norwich came out of the break using explosive plays by Chase and Thomas to guide the offense down the field for a touchdown. MIT then answered the call with a 75-yard touchdown drive of their own that was finished off when Ben Dwyer ran to the outside for a 35-yard score.

Using 2:35, Theal capped off a drive with a 6-yard passing touchdown to Chase, after Thomas put the Cadets in a first and goal situation with a 41-yard grab.

Norwich scored again at the beginning of the fourth quarter before, MIT scored on their following four possessions to down the Cadets.

Norwich (2-5, 1-3 NEWMAC) will face off against WPI next weekend at 12 p.m. in their final home game of the season. There will be a pregame ceremony honoring the senior class prior to kickoff.