Nov 09, 2024
NORTHFIELD, Vt. -- Junior linebacker Chase Williams(Missoula, Mont.) finished with a pair of interceptions, including a first half pick-six, as the MIT football team snapped a five-game losing streak with a resounding 27-0 NEWMAC victory over Norwich University on a sunny fall afternoon at Sabine Field.
THE BASICS:
- Score: MIT 27 Norwich 0
- Records: MIT (3-5 Overall, 1-5 NEWMAC), Norwich (0-9 Overall, 0-6 NEWMAC)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- A scoreless first quarter ended with the Engineers driving deep into Norwich territory. MIT was faced with 3rd and five from the Norwich five-yard line at the start of the second quarter, but junior linebacker Marcello Misuraca (Wilmington, Mass.) got pressure on MIT sophomore quarterback Shaunak Joshi (Tampa, Fla.) and forced an incompletion. An MIT field goal attempt from rookie kicker Luke Pelletier (Williamsburg, Va.) on fourth down was off the mark, giving Norwich the ball at their own five-yard line.
- A holding penalty and back-to-back rushes of two yards from junior running back Mike Cascarano (Lake Worth, Fla.) saw Norwich face 3rd and 8 from their own seven-yard line. Williams pounced on the opportunity to give MIT the lead, intercepting a short pass from Norwich quarterback Aidan Sullivan (Eliot, Maine) at the line of scrimmage before taking a few steps into the end zone for six.
- Norwich went three-and-out on its next possession before the Engineers put together a 19-play drive that was capped by a 34-yard field goal from Pelletier with 2:41 left in the first half that put MIT ahead, 10-0.
- Pelletier would get another chance before the break as the MIT defense shut down the ensuing Norwich possession to send the ball back to the MIT offense. Completions to sophomore Carson Phelps (Wichita, Kan.) and classmate Keegan Doody (Eastchester, N.Y.) and a short scramble from Joshi moved the ball to the Norwich eight-yard line before back-to-back incompletions sent the kicking team out onto the field. Pelletier then split the uprights to make it 13-0 MIT with 58 seconds before the half.
- MIT took full control of the game in the final minute of the first half. After Pelletier put MIT up 13-0, the Engineers got the ball back when Norwich went three-and-out on the next drive, including a third down incompletion that stopped the clock and saw the Engineers regain possession with 33 seconds to play.
- Joshi completed a short pass to Phelps to move the ball to the MIT 39-yard line before sending a ball over the top to senior wide receiver Andrew Hutchison (San Diego, Calif.) for a 61-yard touchdown with 16 seconds left in the quarter. Pelletier tacked on the extra point to give MIT a 20-0 lead at halftime.
- From there, the MIT defense was dominant, forcing three second-half interceptions, including another by Williams. Williams ended a Norwich drive on the first play with his second interception at 6:29 of the third quarter. MIT was unable to capitalize on the next drive, losing the ball on a fumble. However, the Engineers got the ball back on the next Norwich possession when sophomore Caleb Davis (Houston, Texas) picked-off Sullivan at MIT's own five-yard line.
- A fourth quarter interception by junior Lucky Deignan (Indianapolis, Ind.) on Norwich's second to last possession sealed the shutout for MIT. Deignan brought the ball back 58 yards to set-up MIT at the Norwich four-yard line. Phelps then punched it in on the ground on the third attempt of the next MIT drive to give the Engineers the 27-0 final.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- MIT scored 13 points in the final 58 seconds of the second quarter to take a 20-0 lead.
- MIT now has two shutouts in a season for the first time since the Engineers had three during the 2018 campaign.
- Williams' touchdown was the first of his collegiate career. He now has three interceptions this season, one back of the NEWMAC lead.
- Davis had a team-high four tackles to go along with the second half interception.
- Phelps finished with a game-high 102 yards on 28 attempts. He scored for the first time since October 5th vs. Coast Guard. He now has a team leading six touchdowns on the season, a career-high for the sophomore.
- Pelletier's two makes and his 34-yarder in the first half are new career highs for MIT's rookie kicker.
UP NEXT:
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MIT will close out the 2024 season on Saturday, November 16 with a NEWMAC match-up at WPI. Kick-off is scheduled for noon. Last season, MIT scored 15 second-half points to rally for a 25-21 comeback win over WPI. Norwich will play at Salve Regina next Saturday at noon.
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