WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Norwich University football team dropped a 30-22 loss to Gallaudet University on Saturday afternoon in Eastern Collegiate Football Conference action.
With the loss, the Cadets fall to 2-3 overall and 1-1 in ECFC action, while the Bison remain undefeated at 5-0, 2-0 ECFC. Today marks the first time that Norwich has lost to Gallaudet, as the Cadets won the first four meetings between the two schools.
Trailing 30-7 through three quarters, the Cadets posed a 15-point fourth-quarter comeback on the strength of touchdowns by junior Keyen Foley(Hemet, Calif.) and Matt Mulcahy (Essex, Vt.). Foley snapped a 36-minute Norwich scoring drought on a 19-yard run with 8:24 to play. 1:37 later, Norwich's Ethan Hanks (Hull, Mass.) recovered a fumble on Gallaudet's first-and-15, setting up Foley to find Mulcahy for a 22-yard pass. Foley then found sophomore Jake Ouellette (Turner, Maine) for the two-point conversion to set the score at 30-22.
Following Mulcahy's touchdown, the Norwich defense forced Gallaudet into a turnover on downs, allowing Norwich one final opportunity to tie with 2:35 on the clock. The Cadets totaled four first-downs on the drive and traveled 68 yards to reach the red zone, but after two failed incomplete passes, the Cadets fumbled on third-and-goal and time expired to end the game.
Foley totaled 130 passing yards with a touchdown as he completed 16 of 28 passes without throwing an interception. He also ran for 45 yards and two touchdowns, as he also scored the Cadets first touchdown of the day on a seven-yard run with 18 seconds left to play in the first quarter.
Junior Al Georgio (West Greenwich, R.I.) led the Norwich rushers with 57 yards and a long of 21, while Mulcahy led the Cadets receivers with 61 yards. As a team, Norwich posted 238 yards of total offense.
The Norwich defense was on the field for the majority of the game, as the Bison had offensive possession for 38:20. Sir Michael Finney (Killeen, Texas) finished with a team-high 15 tackles and Dane Pallotto (Westbrook, Conn.) contributed 12. Hanks finished with 11 tackles and a fumble recovery, while Nael Pierre-Louis (Cumberland, R.I.) netted a first-quarter interception and returned it 22 yards to the Gallaudet 14-yard line to set up Norwich for their first touchdown of the day.
Gallaudet totaled 304 yards on the ground and added just 71 passing yards to total 375 yards of offense. Quarterbacks Todd Bonheyo and Quention Williams combined for 95 yards on the run, including two touchdowns by Williams. Todd Bonheyo threw for all 71 yards by completing three passes on four attempts.
Ryan Bonheyo netted the first score for the Bison with 6:11 to play in the first quarter. Kicker Chase Magsig missed the PAT attempt, and Norwich took the 7-6 lead on Foley's first touchdown run.
Following Norwich's touchdown, the Cadets attempted an on-side kick as time in the quarter ticked down, but Gallaudet recovered and had time to run one play to start the second quarter on Norwich's 43-yard line. With excellent field position to start the second, the Bison used 11 plays to set up Williams for the one-yard touchdown run. Magsig connected on the point-after attempt to put the Bison up 13-7.
Gallaudet would add two more touchdowns in the second quarter as Braxton Baker scored on a four-yard run at the 1:47 mark and Williams ran for his second touchdown with 33 seconds left in the half. The Bison led 27-7 at half.
Magsig was the lone scorer of the third quarter, as he completed a 32-yard field goal midway through the quarter to extend the Bison lead to 27 points before Norwich posted their 15-point fourth quarter.
Gregg McConville led the Gallaudet defense with 12 tackles and two sacks. Jaris Alleyne added nine tackles, while Tyler Snider recorded five tackles, including two for a loss of six yards.
Norwich will be back in action next Saturday, Oct. 19 as the team hosts SUNY Maritime at Sabine Field at Haynes Family Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 1:30 p.m.