MARLBOROUGH, Mass. - A game-winning interception return in one of Norwich University football's most dramatic rivalry finishes has earned junior defensive lineman Harry Ells (Centerville, Mass.) New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Defensive Athlete of the Week honors, as announced by the league office on Monday.

Ells delivered the decisive play in Saturday afternoon's 17-10 victory over Vermont State University Castleton, securing a deflected pass and returning the interception 17 yards for a touchdown with 37 seconds remaining to bring the Maple Sap Bucket back to Northfield.

The weekly honor is the first of Ells' career and makes him Norwich's first NEWMAC Defensive Athlete of the Week recipient since Ben Primich earned the distinction on Nov. 10, 2025.

With Norwich and Castleton deadlocked at 10-10 in the closing minute, the Spartans regained possession at their own 22-yard line with 47 seconds remaining after stopping the Cadets on fourth down.

The opportunity lasted just one play.

Tank Jemison (Ardmore, Pa.) disrupted quarterback RJ Monger's first-down pass at the line of scrimmage, allowing Ells to secure the deflection at the Castleton 17.  Ells immediately turned upfield and raced untouched into the end zone, supplying the winning points in the 17th all-time meeting between the in-state rivals.

Ells finished the afternoon with three tackles, a half-tackle for loss, two quarterback hurries, and the game-winning interception return as part of a Norwich defense that forced four turnovers, recorded three sacks and eight tackles for loss, and held Castleton to 63 rushing yards on 28 attempts.

The Cadets kept the Spartans out of the end zone for the game's first 54 minutes and generated three fourth-quarter takeaways, including the decisive interception by Ells.

Ells and Jemison also received national recognition on Monday, as the duo earned "game balls" from Patrick Coleman and Greg Thomas on the D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast.  The weekly distinction highlights some of the top and most memorable performances from across NCAA Division III football.

Jemison turned in a disruptive performance of his own against Castleton, finishing with six tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a sack, and a quarterback hurry in addition to creating the deflection that led to Ells' winning touchdown.

The late defensive heroics capped a turnover-filled final stretch for Norwich.  Madux McGrath (Amherst, N.H.) forced a fumble at the Cadet five-yard line with 8:10 remaining that was recovered by Jack Daley (Weymouth, Mass.), while Imari Milton (Miramar, Fla.) later recorded a strip-sack and recovered the loose ball himself with 1:15 to play.

The victory snapped Castleton's two-game run in the rivalry and returned the Maple Sap Bucket to Norwich for the first time since 2023.  It also marked Head Coach Bill Russell's first victory over the Spartans and improved the Cadets' advantage in the all-time series to 11-6.

Norwich will have an open week before beginning NEWMAC play on Saturday, Sept. 26, when the Cadets travel to Kings Point, N.Y., for a 12:00 p.m. matchup against the United States Merchant Marine Academy.