CASTLETON, VT - The Maple Sap Bucket is back safely in Northfield for the sixth consecutive year as the Cadets downed Castleton 28-14.  A hounding defense which created three interceptions, a solid run game, and a game sealing interception return for a touchdown ensured the Cadets would travel home with the trophy once again. 

After Castleton University punted on their first possession, the Norwich offense embarked on a 15 play, 77-yard touchdown drive to open the scoring.  The drive lasted for just over eight minutes and included two clutch receptions by junior Will Thornton (Cape Elizabeth, Maine).  Freshman quarterback Ryan O'Keefe (Scarborough, Maine), making his second career start in as many weeks, found Thornton for a 16-yard gain on 3rd and 6 from the VTSU 41-yard line. Later in the drive, on 4th and 17, O'Keefe again connected with Thornton for a first down.  Three plays later senior Justin Bryant (Eliot, Maine) rumbled into the end zone to take the lead 7-0.  

Castleton attempted to answer on the next possession.  A good kickoff return put the Spartans on their own 38-yard line to open the drive.  An 11 play, 44-yard drive was halted at the Norwich 18-yard line.  The field goal attempt was blocked securing a red zone stop for the Cadets. 

The next three possessions resulted in the teams exchanging punts. But, with Norwich playing into the strong headwind, their two punts only traveled 23 and 26-yards respectively.  Castleton's punt traveled a wind aided 73-yards and was downed on the Norwich 11-yard line, putting the Cadets deep in their own territory.  Unable to gain a first down, and punting into the strong wind, the ball eventually went over to the Spartans on the Norwich 37-yard line.  7 plays and 37-yards later, the game was tied 7-7.

Norwich had one more opportunity in the opening half to regain the lead.  A pair of solid runs by senior Jehric Hackney (Jehrico, Vt) and Bryant quickly moved the ball to the VTSU side of the field.  A couple of O'Keefe passes to Thornton and Bryant then put the Cadets in the Castleton red zone with only 38 seconds left.  On the next play, O'Keefe was sacked for an 8-yard loss on first down but immediately gained those 8-yards back on a scramble on second down.  O'Keefe's third down pass was intercepted in the back of the end zone, halting the Cadet threat and the score would remain tied 7-7 going into halftime. 

The Norwich offense was unable to gain a first down on their first drive of hte second half.  Freshman punter Madux McGrath (Amherst, N.H.) unleashed a 65-yard punt which flipped the field.  Unfortunately, the punt just barely rolled into the end zone before the Norwich punt team could get to it, and the resulting touchback put the ball at Castleton 20-yard line.

The Norwich defensive pressure, which would be a common statement in the second half, finally caused the Castleton offense to crack.  On a broken play, VTSU quarterback Evan Smith scrambled to his left and under duress tried to throw late down the field.  Freshman Iva Hayes got his second interception in as many weeks to set-up the Norwich offense at the Castleton 26-yard line. 

Leaning on the ground game, Norwich ran the ball four times until it was 3rd and goal from the 6-yard line.  For the first time in the game, O'Keefe found senior Trevor Chase (Eliot, Maine) on the left side of the field.  Chase made two defenders miss and darted into the end zone giving the Cadets the 14-7 lead.  A lead they would not relinquish.

The Norwich defense stood firm on the next possession and quickly got the ball back to the offense.  The entire Castleton drive was 3 plays, 3 yards, and only 53 seconds.  After an initial 11-yard run by freshman Jeremiah Clairborn (Redlands, Calif.), the Cadets could not get another first down and had to punt the ball back to Castleton.  McGrath's punt was blocked and recovered at the Norwich 46 yard line. 

The Norwich defense again stood firm.  Three consecutive running plays resulted in a 4th and 1 from the Norwich 38-yard line. The Cadets stuffed the play as junior Eli Leblanc (Hollis Center, Maine) and sophomore Devin DeJesus (Chelmsford, Mass.) combined to make the stop behind the line of scrimmage. 

Norwich only needed three plays on the next offensive possession.  An 11-yard run and 3-yard run set up a 2nd and 7 from the VTSU 48-yard line. O'Keefe found Chase on short pass to the right side.  Chase dusted off one would be tackler and then outran the rest of the defense for his second touchdown of the day.  The Cadets now owned a 21-7 lead. 

Castleton was able to string together an 11 play, 75-yard drive on their next possession.  The touchdown drive was culminated by a 2-yard run. The big play in the possession was a juggling 40-yard completion to the 6-yard line.  It was the only big play allowed by the defense on the day. 

The next two possessions resulted in the each team getting stopped on 4th down.  On the first play of their next possession, disaster struck as the Norwich offense fumbled the ball at their own 38-yard line.  The defense would answer and once again get a 4th down red zone stop, this time on their own 11-yard line. 

The Cadet offense now was looking to bleed some of the clock as they took possession with only 6:04 left in the game and holding a 7-point lead.  After 4 plays, but more importantly 2:16 off the clock, the Cadets had to punt into the headwind.  McGrath had an excellent 34-yard punt, but Castleton return man Caezar Williams returned it 18 yards to the VTSU 27-yard line. 

With only 3:48 to go in the game, Castleton had to turn to the passing game and the Norwich defense knew it. Two forced incompletions and a short 5-yard gain brought up 4th down again.  Smith, the Castleton quarterback, looked towards his right and let it go.  Senior Ethan Amburn (Suffield, Conn.) stepped in front of the receiver to get his first career interception and then returned it 36-yards down the Norwich sideline for the touchdown as the Norwich bench erupted in celebration.  The score doubled the Norwich lead to 14 points and gave the Cadets a little bit of breathing room. 

The very next Castleton play was also intercepted.  DeJesus saw the play develop the entire way, undercut the receiver for the interception then returned it for 7-yards before sliding down just past midfield.  Norwich then ran out most of the remaining 2:31 on the clock to end the game. 

After the game, Coach Murnyack explained his feelings. "I'm really proud of the players and coaches.  They went in to a tough environment against a strong team and came away with a victory.  It was an outstanding effort by everyone involved."

Offensively, the Cadets were led on the ground by Bryant with 17 carries for 100 yards and a touchdown as well as Hackney who had 10 carries for 64 yards.  In total, the Cadets racked up 191 yards rushing on the day.  O'Keefe was a very efficient 10/15 (66%) passing for 166 yards, 2 TDs, and 1 INT.   Chase and Thornton each had 3 receptions.  Chase had 65 yards receiving and 2 TDs while Thornton finished with 49 yards receiving and 2 clutch receptions for first downs. 

Defensively, the Cadets limited Castleton to only 2.1 yards per carry and 15/35 (42.8%) passing while creating 3 turnovers, getting 4 4th down stops, 2 red zone stops, and a blocked field goal. 

The Cadets (1-2) will play their first home game of the season this coming Saturday as they welcome Worcester Polytechnic Institute (2-1) to Sabine Field for homecoming.  It will be the NEWMAC conference opener for both teams.  The game is schedule for a 2:00 pm kickoff.