MARLBOROUGH, Mass. - A perfect afternoon in the kicking game has earned Norwich University football junior Zack Zegarra (Ridgewood, N.J.) New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Special Teams Athlete of the Week honors for the first time in his career, as announced by the league office on Monday.
Zegarra converted both of his field-goal attempts and both extra-point opportunities in Norwich's 26-22 Homecoming victory over Maritime College on Saturday, accounting for eight points as the Cadets secured their second consecutive win and first NEWMAC victory of the season.
The honor makes Zegarra Norwich's first NEWMAC Special Teams Athlete of the Week recipient since Jehric Hackney earned the distinction on Nov. 18, 2024.
Zegarra also becomes the seventh Norwich player to receive the conference's Special Teams Athlete of the Week award since the NEWMAC began sponsoring football and the Cadets joined the league in 2017. He joins Hackney, Madux McGrath, Zach Buchy, Manni Romero, Jacob Burke, and Clyde Tamburro among Norwich's all-time recipients.
With points at a premium during a scoreless opening quarter and much of the second, Zegarra provided Norwich's first breakthrough late in the opening half.
The Cadets put together a 10-play, 64-yard possession midway through the second quarter, advancing to the Maritime 15 before the Privateers kept Norwich out of the end zone. Zegarra came on for the 31-yard attempt and converted, giving the Cadets a 3-0 advantage with 3:08 remaining.
Norwich's defense quickly gave him another opportunity.
A forced fumble by Aidan Hamilton (West Boylston, Mass.) and recovery by Tank Jemison (Ardmore, Pa.) handed the Cadets possession at the Maritime 28 with 2:18 remaining before halftime. Norwich drove inside the five, and after the Privateers once again prevented a touchdown, Zegarra connected from 21 yards with four seconds left to send the Cadets into the break ahead, 6-0.
Zegarra remained perfect after intermission.
He converted the extra point after Will Patenaude (Goffstown, N.H.) powered in from 15 yards early in the third quarter before adding another PAT after Landon Beecher (Holliston, Mass.) connected with Fionn Parker-Cummings (Bangor, Maine) for a 13-yard touchdown later in the period. The second conversion stretched Norwich's advantage to 20-0 with 2:28 remaining in the third.
Those points ultimately carried added importance as Maritime mounted a late fourth-quarter comeback, scoring three touchdowns — including two in the final 55 seconds — before Norwich recovered the Privateers' final onside kick to preserve the 26-22 victory.
The perfect outing continued a strong season for Zegarra, who has converted six of seven field-goal attempts through six games while remaining a perfect 11-for-11 on extra points. His six made field goals include five from between 30 and 39 yards, with a season long of 35 yards.
Zegarra has accounted for 29 points this season, ranking second on the team in scoring behind Patenaude's 30.
He joins junior defensive lineman Harry Ells (Centerville, Mass.) and junior wide receiver Jahmir Dixon (Philadelphia, Pa.) as Norwich's three NEWMAC Athlete of the Week recipients this season.
Ells earned Defensive Athlete of the Week recognition on Sept. 14 after returning an interception for the game-winning touchdown against Vermont State University Castleton, while Dixon collected Offensive Athlete of the Week honors last week after posting 11 receptions for 228 yards and a touchdown in Norwich's victory at Maine Maritime Academy.
Norwich will remain at Sabine Field at Haynes Family Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 24, welcoming the United States Coast Guard Academy for Parents & Family Weekend and the annual Little Army-Navy Game. The longtime rivals will once again compete for The Mug, with kickoff scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
