NORTHFIELD, Vt.- Concurrent with the Homecoming weekend festivities, including a pre-kickoff flyover by a B-2 Spirit, the Norwich football team took the Sabine Field turf for the first time in the 2025 season to take on Maine Maritime for the first time since 2019, where they would cross the 60-point threshold for the first time since Nov. 2, 1985.

Both offenses struggled out of the gate, but the Cadets took possession on the Mariner 29-yard line on their second set of downs and broke the ice within two plays as Mike Cascarano (Lake Worth, Fla.) found the end zone on a 19-yard run.

On their second drive, Maine Maritime took over in the shadow of their own goal post. A second straight three-and-out forced a punt from the back of their own end zone. Jack Daley (Weymouth, Mass.) broke through the line of scrimmage, blocking the punt, which Jack Bailey (Weymouth, Mass.) recovered in the end zone for Norwich's second score in 1:36.

Upon regaining possession, the Mariners drove as far as midfield before turning it over on downs. The Cadets found themselves in the red zone on the back of a 33-yard reception by Declan Lay (Brunswick, Maine). On fourth down, Landon Beecher (Holliston, Mass.) found Henri Bourque (Claremont, N.H.) for the touchdown, going up three scores in the first quarter on Beecher's first of five total touchdowns.

Early in the second quarter, Beecher would get his second score of the day when he found a wide-open Ben Weers (Hebron, Conn.) for a 65-yard catch and run for a score on the longest play of the season. Later in the quarter, the Cadet ground game took over. Long runs by Cascarano and Will Patenaude (Goffstown, N.H.) got Norwich back on the doorstep, setting the stage for a two-yard plunge by Beecher.

Late in the half, Norwich turned Maine Maritime over on downs for a second time. Two rushes by Zay Smith (Stratford, Conn.) set up another score courtesy of a Fionn Parker-Cummings (Bangor, Maine) reception, putting the Cadets up 42-0 at halftime, a half closed out by a Madux McGrath (Amherst, N.H.) interception.

Iva Hayes (Miami, Fla.) picked up right where the Norwich defense left off with an interception of his own to start the second half, setting the stage for a Connor McFarland (Manchester, N.H.) catch-and-run for a score. Two rushing touchdowns by Smith and Nafis Muhammad (Staten Island, N.Y.) closed out the scoring plays.

It was an explosive day for the Norwich offense, racking up 479 total yards, 289 on the ground, and going 5-7 in the red zone. Beecher was efficient with an 80% completion percentage and four passing touchdowns, in addition to the one rushing score. Smith led the rushing attack with 87 yards.

Conversely, the defense limited the Mariners to just 78 yards of total offense. Jalen Elibert-Fowlkes (Saint-Hubert, Que.) led the way with five total tackles and two pass breakups and a tackle for loss, while Imari Milton (Miramar, Fla.) tallied two sacks.

Norwich will remain at home next week when they renew pleasantries with the United States Merchant Marine Academy to open New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play on Sept. 27 at 12 p.m.