THROGGS NECK, N.Y. - The Norwich comeback bid fell just short against first year New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) foe Maritime college 24-21.  The Privateers built a 10-point lead relatively early in the second quarter and recovered a last minute onside kick to hold off the Cadet comeback.

The Privateers opened the scoring on their first possession of the day.  Facing a 3rd and 5 from their own 30-yard line, Maritime QB Steven Stassi found Luke Caliendo on a short pass to the left side of the field which Caliendo turned into a 60-yard gain down to the Cadet 10 yard line.  The next play was the first touchdown of the game as Nate Casaburi hauled in the next Stassi pass for the 7-0 lead.

Another short offensive possession brought out the Cadet punting unit.  But, a botched catch on the snap resulted in Maritime taking over on downs at the Cadet 19-yard line.  The defense, already in their own red zone, stood tall and forced a field goal attempt which was missed, and the Cadets kept it a one possession game. 

Covering the end of the first quarter into the second quarter, Maritime strung together a 14 play 59-yard drive which took almost 8 minutes off the game clock.  The defense again held in the red zone and forced Maritime to settle for a field goal.  The successful kick opened up a 10-0 lead for the Privateers. 

A penalty on the subsequent kickoff forced the Norwich offense to begin at their own 8-yard line.  The offense answered with a 8 play 92-yard touchdown drive.  On the drive, the Cadets ran the ball 3 times and freshman QB Ryan O'Keefe (Scarborough, Maine) was 4/5 in the air.  With the ball at the Maritime 44-yard line and facing a 2nd and 10, O'Keefe found a wide open Trevor Chase (Eliot, Maine) down the right numbers for the touchdown making the score 10-7 in favor of the home Privateers. 

Unfortunately, the Privateers were able to add another touchdown before halftime.  Maritime used an 11 play 76-yard drive which took just over 5 minutes off the game clock before Stassi threw a touchdown pass to Caliendo.  With less than 90 seconds left in the half, the Privateers again had a 10 point lead.

Sophomore running back Mike Cascarano (Lake Worth, FL) got 24-yards on the kickoff return to put the offense in a good position to begin the next drive.  Two quick short passes immediately brought the ball to midfield.  Facing 2nd and 10 from the 50-yard line, O'Keefe stepped up into the pocket, began to move to his left, and then spotted a wide open Andrew White (Walpole, MA) on the left sideline.  The 36-yard pass and run, combined with a Maritime personal foul, brought the ball to the Privateer 7-yard line. Three running plays later and Jeremiah Claiborne (Redlands, CA) found the end zone for the first time in the game.  The Cadets would enter the locker room at halftime trailing by only 3. 

The chaotic back-and-forth of the second quarter carried over the start of the third quarter.  The Privateers began the second half with a 17 play 80-yard drive which consumed over half of the quarter.  In a telling sign, Maritime went for it on 4th down at the Norwich 44-yard line and just barely converted.  Later in the drive, facing a 4th and 12, the Privateers again converted with a 16-yard pass play and kept the drive alive.  Three plays later, the Privateers would score their only points in the second half.  

O'Keefe played the best game of his young career.  On the day, he was 16/29 passing (55%) for a career best 239 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception.

The 4th quarter saw both teams go back and forth but the game was played between the 20-yard lines.  As Maritime tried to milk the clock, they still continued to lean on Stassi who was 24/40 passing (60%) for 292 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.  Stefan Romero (New York, N.Y) came away with the first interception for the Cadets with just over four minutes left in the game.  Unfortunately, the Cadets could not move the ball and turned it over on downs inside their own red zone. 

Several ineffective run plays by Maritime brought up a 4th and 15 from the Norwich 24-yard line.  The Privateers decided to go for it with less than two minutes left in the game.  Ethan Amburn (Suffield, CT) caught a deflected interception and returned it 11 yards to give the Cadets a chance.

The Cadets were down 10, 1:37 on the clock, and had the ball at their own 25-yard line.  With renewed emotion on the sideline, a determined Norwich offensive unit took the field. Two quick completions netted 20 yards and then O'Keefe found Chase for a 36-yard gain to the 20-yard line. Will Thornton (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) then followed up with a 19-yard reception.  The next play saw Claiborne spring into the end zone and draw the Cadets to within 3 points with 52 second left in the game.  The entire 75-yard touchdown drive had only taken 44 seconds off the game clock and the Cadets still had a chance.

The ensuing onside kick was recovered by the Privateers which halted the Norwich comeback. 

Offensively, the Cadets were led on the ground by Justin Bryant (Eliot, Maine) and Claiborne who had 30 and 29-yards respectively.  Chase led the Cadets with 5 receptions, 92 yards, and a touchdown.  White, Thornton, and Bryant each had 3 receptions and finished with between 41 and 44 yards receiving. 

Defensively, Simon Taraska (Willowick, OH) and Jeremy Henault (Goffstown, N.H.) had excellent games.  Taraska, who came into the game as one of the leading tacklers in the NEWMAC, accoutned for 12 total tackles in the game.  Henault added another 9 from his safety position.  The Cadets had five players with eight or more tackles on the day:  Taraska, Henault, outside linebacker Marcello Misuraca (Wilmington, MA), outside linebacker Garrett Mack (Lewiston, Maine), and inside linebacker Declan Kapusta (Walhalla, S.C.).

The Privateers dominated time of possession in the game, 41:06 to 18:54, in large part to 3rd and 4th down.  The Cadets were 3/9 on 3rd down and 0/2 on 4th down while Maritime converted 9/18 on 3rd down and was 4/6 on 4th down.  Although the Privateers ran an amazing 82 plays in the game, 29 more than the Cadets, the Norwich defense only surrendered 391 yards. 

The Cadets will return to Sabine Field next week for Family Weekend.  Norwich will host United States Merchant Marine Academy on Saturday October 7th.