LEICESTER, Mass. – Norwich University defeated Becker College 37-20 in Eastern Collegiate Football Conference action Saturday afternoon at Alumni Field. The win lifts the Cadets record to 4-2 (2-1 ECFC), while the Hawks remain winless at 0-6 (0-3 ECFC).
Becker got on the board with 3:53 remaining in the first quarter when DeJahn Dawkins (East Hartford, Conn.) took a screen pass 43 yard yards for the opening score. Norwich responded on their next possession when Al Georgio (West Greenwich, R.I.) took a handoff up the middle for a 66 yard touchdown, tying the game at 7-7.
The score remained knotted at seven until Norwich kicker Wesley Medeiros (Gilford, N.H.) hit a 31 yard field goal to give the Cadets a 10-7 lead at the half.
Medeiros opened the second half with another 31 yard field goal to give Norwich a 13-7 advantage. On the Cadets next drive, Al Georgio took a handoff that appeared to be stuffed at the line of scrimmage, but Georgio reversed directions and scampered 35 yards down to the Becker one yard line. Quincy Williams (Brossard, Que.) capped off the drive with a handoff up the middle to put the Cadets in front 20-7.
Becker responded on their next possession when Dylan McGuire (Somers, N.Y.) connected with Nicholas Sherman (Hartford, Conn.) for a 16 yard touchdown pass, cutting the Norwich lead to 20-14.
The Cadets went ahead 23-14 when Wesley Medeiros nailed his third field goal of this game, this one from 36 yards.
The Hawks returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for what appeared to be a touchdown, but the run was called back due to holding. On the very first play of the Becker drive, Norwich linebacker Matt LeFevre (Milford, N.J.) intercepted a Dylan McGuire pass, returning it 35 yards for the pick six to give the Cadets a 30-14 lead after three quarters.
The Hawks kept themselves in the game when Dylan McGuire hit Nicholas Sherman with a jump ball in the back corner of the end zone, cutting the Hawks deficit to 30-20.
Norwich sealed the victory when Keyen Foley (Hemet, Calif.) found Tyler Oppelt (Latham, N.Y.) down the right seam for 27 yard touchdown to make the final 37-20.
Al Georgio led Norwich with a game high 193 rushing yards on 26 carries. Quarterback Keyen Foley threw for 177 yards and rushed for 54, while Tyler Oppelt had four catches for a game high 81 yards.
The Cadet defense was paced by Matt LeFevre and Jimmy Labell (Stanhope, N.J.) who each finished with a game high 12 tackles.
Dylan McGuire passed for a game high 221 yards and three touchdowns, both career highs for the junior quarterback. Howard Bradley (Lincoln, R.I.) led the Hawks receiving corps with 74 yards, Nicholas Sherman and DeJahn Dawkins combined for 113 yards and three scores. John Creesy (Merrimac, Mass.) rushed for 61 yards on 20 carries.
The Becker defense was led by Michael Calafiore (Franklin, N.J.) with a team high nine tackles and a sack. Snider Saint-Vil (Palm Coast, Fla.) added eight tackles, while Davin Collins (Far Rockaway, N.Y.) and Josh Lawrence (Manhattan, N.Y.) chipped in with seven tackles each.
Both teams return to action on Saturday, October 25. Becker will travel to SUNY Maritime for a 2:00 p.m. kickoff, while Norwich returns to the Worcester area for a 3:00 p.m. tilt with Anna Maria College.