NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Norwich University football team's offense struggled trying to get going all afternoon in its season opener against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) on Saturday at Haynes Family Stadium.
The Cadets managed just 187 yards of total offense, while RPI gained 323 total yards en route to a 29-9 victory over Norwich.
RPI junior quarterback Jeff Avery ran for a touchdown and threw for another to lead the Engineers' offense in their second straight victory over Norwich. RPI beat the Cadets 20-7 in the 2013 opener as well.
RPI's (1-0) defense racked up three interceptions, including a pick-six touchdown from junior linebacker Mark Grimes midway through the third quarter to put RPI up 23-3 following a successful PAT from Andrew Franks.
Norwich (0-1) got on the board first with 9:44 left in the opening quarter when sophomore kickerWesley Medeiros (Gilford, N.H.) booted a 26-yard field goal to put the Cadets up 3-0. Norwich got in field goal range following a 52-yard run by senior quarterback Keyen Foley (Hemet, Calif.) to set NU up at the RPI 10. However, the drive stalled out from there forcing Norwich to settle for three.
RPI answered right back with a 74-yard kickoff return from Reggie Colas all the way to Norwich 18. After a holding penalty and two short gains, Avery hooked up with junior running back Austin Amery for a 20-yard touchdown pass on 3rd and 12 to give the Engineers a lead they would never look back from. Franks added the point after to put RPI up 7-3 with 7:42 left in the first quarter.
Norwich went three and out on its next possession and was forced to punt from its own 28 yard line.
On the flipside, RPI worked methodically on its ensuing possession, marching 59 yards on eight plays in 3:06, capped off by a 14-yard QB draw from Avery right down the middle and into the end zone to increase the lead to 13-3. Franks point after nailed the right upright.
Neither side scored again until midway through the second quarter when Norwich's defense made an excellent goal line stand to limit RPI to three points after the Engineers had it first and goal on the one-yard-line. Franks nailed the 22-yard field goal to make it 16-3 RPI with 7:34 to play in the half.
Grimes' interception return for a touchdown midway through the third quarter prompted Norwich to pull Foley in favor of senior QB Joshua Woodward (Dayton, Maine).
Woodward's first drive under center resulted in another three and out and a Medeiros punt. RPI gained 49 yards with its next four plays, highlighted by a 14-yard catch by Casey McHugh to get the ball down to the Norwich five-yard line. The Norwich defense once again dug its heels in, forcing RPI to attempt a field goal. Senior defensive back Nael Pierre-Louis (Cumberland, R.I.) burst around the end of the line and blocked Franks' kick to give the Norwich bench some life.
However, Norwich was once again forced to a three and out on offense. RPI added a 35-yard Franks' field goal on its next drive to go up 26-3 with nine seconds left in the third quarter.
Norwich's offense finally broke through on its first drive to open the fourth quarter with Woodward completing four straight passes to Jamieson (10 yards), Georgio (1 yard), Colaire (35 yards) and Jamieson (13 yards). Georgio added a three-yard rush on 1st and 10 from the RPI 16 to set up Woodward's 13-yard TD pass to Adam Fraser. Fraser fought off a RPI defender and dove over the goal line to cut the deficit to 26-9. Norwich went for two but the pass was broken up in the end zone. The Cadets marched 75 yards on seven plays in a span of 2:24 on the touchdown drive.
RPI answered back with another Franks field goal, this time from 32 yards to increase the lead to 29-9 with 9:47 left in the game.
Neither side would score again as the Engineers improved to 18-2 in season openers over the last 20 seasons. RPI also cut into Norwich's advantage in the all-time series, closing the gap to 7-4-4. The two teams met for the first time on Nov. 16, 1912, playing to a 0-0 tie in Troy, N.Y.
Senior defensive back Dane Pallotto (Westbrook, Conn.) led Norwich with six solo tackles and two assists. Junior Sir Michael Finney (Killeen, Texas) and senior Jimmy Labell (Stanhope, N.J.) each totaled six tackles as well. Freshmen defensive back Gabriel Barton (Riverside, Calif.) had an interception and two pass breakups for Norwich.
Norwich returns to action next Saturday when it travels to Canton, N.Y. to take on St. Lawrence University in another non-league matchup. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. The visiting team has won seven straight games in the Norwich/SLU series. SLU won last year's meeting 14-3 in the inaugural football game on Sabine Field at Haynes Family Stadium.