CANTON, N.Y.- The Norwich Football team opened its season Friday night by renewing pleasantries with St. Lawrence, meeting for the 48th consecutive season for the right to hoist the Hoffman Cup.
After receiving the opening kickoff, the Saints got as far as their own 49-yard line before a pooch kick pinned the Cadets on their own nine-yard line for their first possession of the campaign. After stringing together several plays to escape the shadow of their own goal posts, on 2nd and 6 from their own 41-yard line, Aidan Sullivan (Eliot, Maine) connected with fullback Jack Berthiaume (Plainville, Mass.) for a 27-yard gain, getting into St. Lawrence territory.
Three plays later, Sullivan connected with Connor MacFarland (Manchester, N.H.) on 4th and 1, putting Norwich in the red zone. Several attempts at the end zone were unsuccessful, leading to a Zack Zegarra (Ridgewood, N.J.) field goal to give the Cadets the early lead on the back of a 16-play, 83-yard drive in 8:19.
The Norwich defense held serve on the following St. Lawrence possession, forcing a three-and-out. However, a muffed punt closed out the first quarter and gave the Saints the ball on the five-yard line, where they would eventually cash in and take the lead. Mike Cascarano (Lake Worth, Fla.) and Will Patenaude (Goffstown, N.H.) established the ground game, but the Saints' defense held firm. Halfway through the second quarter, St. Lawrence strung together several big plays on offense to set up another touchdown to take a 14-3 lead into halftime.
The Cadet offense was held down on the second half's opening drive. On St. Lawrence's first drive of the second half, they drove to the one-yard line with several chances to punch the ball across the goal line. The Norwich defense, led by Ben Primich (Yardley, Pa.), Imari Milton (Miramar, Fla.), and John Dixner (Fenton, Mich.), stuffed several rushing attempts, anchoring a goal-line stand. Two plays after regaining possession, St. Lawrence notched a safety and added a field goal on their next drive.
Facing a two-score deficit, Norwich took possession early in the fourth quarter, marching 52 yards in 13 plays, highlighted by a 19-yard reception by Ben Weers (Hebron, Conn.). However, they were turned over on downs, leading St. Lawrence to drain the rest of the clock.
Sullivan finished the night 12-20 for 110 yards through the air, with Cascarano leading the way on the ground with 14 carries for 39 yards. Weers ended the night as the leading receiver, averaging 10 yards per catch.
Defensively, Primich earned Team MVP honors, racking up 15 total tackles. Not far behind him was Milton with nine tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and half a sack, with Dixner adding three tackles for loss and a sack. Marcello Misuraca (Wilmington, Mass. and Maddox Reed (Spring Hill, Tenn.) also had sacks and tackles for loss.
The Cadets will return to the gridiron Saturday, Sept. 13, when they look to reclaim the Maple Sap Bucket against intrastate foe Vermont State Castleton at 12 p.m.
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