NORTHFIELD, Vt.- The Norwich Football team renewed their rivalry with St. Lawrence Friday night in search of their first Hoffman Cup victory since 2019 while hosting their first night game since 2021.

After the Saints defense held the Cadets to an early three and out, they would earn advantageous field position. On their first play from scrimmage, the St. Lawrence offense connected for a 33-yard catch and run to set up a field goal for the opening score. As Norwich looked to answer, the offense stalled once again before the Saints embarked on a 12 play, 77-yard drive for a touchdown to go ahead by ten and taking up much of the opening frame.

Early in the second quarter, St. Lawrence got the ball off a turnover on downs on the fringe of the redzone and would capitalize to go up 17. The Cadets took to the ground on the ensuing drive with Mike Cascarano (Lake Worth, Fla.) and scrambles by Aidan Sullivan (Eliot, Maine) moved the ball down the field. Despite not capitalizing on the drive, Norwich got the ball back immediately on the first of two interceptions by Madux McGrath (Amherst, N.H.) who got the ball to the Saints' 35-yard line.
 A Sullivan fourth down scramble, coupled with clutch receptions by Will Thornton (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) and Riley Geyer (Augusta, Maine) put Norwich in the redzone. After three plays in close were denied, the Saints were called for pass interference in the endzone, putting the ball at the 3 which set up a Cascarano touchdown run to bring the gap to two scores where it would stand at the half.

Defense ruled the night in the third quarter, which opened with McGrath's second interception but neither team sustained a drive longer than 22 yards. Late in the frame, Saints' quarterback Mark Rodeo fumbled at his own 37 which was recovered by Elijah Torres (Bronx, N.Y.). On the next possession, Sullivan would hit Declan Lay (Brunswick, Maine) for a clutch third down conversion, setting up Norwich at the nine leading to a Jace McCarron (Sharon, Mass.) to cut the St. Lawrence lead to eight.
Maddox Reed (Spring Hill, Tenn.) recovered a Saints fumble as they looked to answer, but St. Lawrence's defense buckled down and forced Norwich to go three and out. Upon regaining possession, the Saints would chew five and a half minutes off the clock and kick a field goal to go up two scores and secure the 20-9 victory and the Hoffman Cup.

McGrath earned game MVP honors for the Cadets with his two interceptions to go along with five total tackles, a pass breakup and a QB hurry. For the Saints, defensive lineman Thomas Our won his team's honor. Also starring defensively for Norwich was Jeremy Henault (Goffstown, N.H.) with seven tackles, and 1.5 tackles for loss, to go along with Shayne Leddy's (Spring Lake, N.J.) six tackles.

Norwich will close out their season opening homestand when they host Husson Saturday Sept. 21 at 2 PM on Homecoming weekend.