NORTHFIELD, Vt.- The Norwich football team opened their 2024 campaign by battling intrastate rival Vermont State Castleton in the 15^th edition of the Battle of the Maple Sap Bucket to open the tenure of first-year Head Coach Bill Russell.

After receiving the opening kickoff, the Cadets got into the redzone immediately after a 40-yard rush from Jehric Hackney (Jericho, Vt.), but the Spartan defense held firm forcing a field goal attempt that misfired keeping the game scoreless. On Norwich's next possession, they marched 47 yards on eight plays, highlighted by a 28-yard catch and run by Will Thornton (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) but they were turned away on the doorstep once again.

After regaining possession, Castleton connected for a 77-yard catch and run setting up the first score of the game on a one-yard touchdown run. The maroon and gold responded with a lengthy 13 play drive that rolled into the second quarter with Thornton hauling in a 30-yard reception late in the first. After a Norwich touchdown was negated, Allen Cohen (Portland, Conn.) knocked through a 24-yard field goal to cut the deficit to four.

Off the ensuing kickoff, the Spartans got as far as their own 49 before an Eli LeBlanc (Hollis Center, Maine) sack, one for four on the day for a stout Norwich defense. With the offense taking over at their own 41, Aidan Sullivan (Eliot, Maine) lateralled right to Henri Bourque (Claremont, N.H.) who hit Mike Cascarano (Lake Worth, Fla.) down the sideline for a 31-yard gain putting Norwich on the doorstep again, leading to a second field goal for Cohen which cut the deficit to one at halftime.

The defense held Castleton to a three-and-out to open the second half, setting Norwich up in prime position to take the lead. A 20-yard pass to Connor McFarland (Manchester, N.H.) put Norwich back in the red zone, but a Spartan interception at the four-yard line quickly ended that threat. On the next play, the Spartans rattled off a 96-yard touchdown rush to extend their lead. The frustration continued for the Norwich offense, as they moved the ball up and down the field but could not find the scoreboard.

With one last gasp in the fourth quarter, the Cadets gained possession with 2:47 to play down by a score. Passes to Cascarano and Hackney got them into Spartan territory. In the final minute, on a 4^th and 15, Sullivan found McFarland for a 40 yard touchdown pass, however the two-point attempt failed and the Spartans would seal the deal with an onside kick recovery to take the game 14-12, and take back the Maple Sap Bucket, despite the Cadets holding the edge in first downs (18-7), passing yards (307-144), and total offense (381-244).

Thornton finished the day with 11 catches for 125 yards, to go along with McFarland's three receptions for 62 yards and the lone touchdown, additionally Bourque hauled in six balls. Sullivan completed 59% of his passes for 276 yards. Defensively, Shayne Leddy (Spring Lake, N.J.) led the way with eight solo tackles, four of which for loss of 13 yards with Simon Taraska (Willowick, Ohio), Imari Milton (Miramar, Fla.), Elijah Torres (Bronx, N.Y.), and LeBlanc each contributing sacks.
Norwich will remain on their home turf when they play host to St. Lawrence on Sept. 13 at 7 PM under the Friday Night Lights in search of the Hoffman Cup.