Football wins conference title

For the first time in 116 years, Norwich University football won a conference title.

The team defeated Mount Ida College, 49-14, to win the inaugural Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) Championship Game Saturday afternoon.

Norwich University has been playing football since 1893 and has never hosted or won a conference championship.

Kris Sabourin, an 18-year-old freshman accounting major from Georgia, Vt., said, "It is definitely an honor to be the first group to host a championship, and we get to see people coming back, it great to see them congratulating us."

Andrew Fulford a 20-year-old sophomore communications major from Gloucester, Ma., said, "The championship means a lot to this university, this is really a big step for the football program."

After a sluggish 0-3 start, Norwich turned around against Mount Ida in the fourth week of the season. The Cadets beat the Mustangs 28-6 on Sept. 26, and have not lost since.

The Norwich defense has keyed the team's eight-game win streak, as the Cadets are yielding a mere nine points per game over the stretch.

Matt Simonelli, an 18-year-old freshman electrical engineering major from Scituate, R.I., said, "We are doing whatever it takes to win this game, watching film and practicing extra hard to leave it all on the field." 

After the September victory against Mount Ida, Norwich blasted Becker, 42-2. A pair of tough road games followed, but the Cadets were up to the challenge. NU went down to Washington, D.C., to knock off Gallaudet, 14-7, before traveling up to Bangor, Maine, to take a 20-19 decision from league preseason favorite Husson.

Garin Thornton, a 20-year-old sophomore athletic training major from Earlville, N.Y., said, "This is big because now the football program can finally get some respect, and we are finally in a conference that we belong in."

The Cadets stopped the Eagles' two-point conversion attempt in the final minute of the game to preserve the victory and take over the driver's seat for the ECFC regular season title.

After pushing aside Anna Maria, 48-0, Norwich prepped for the game of the year in the conference: A date with Maritime (NY) for first place in the league standings. The Cadets defense again stood tall, forcing six second half turnovers and defeating the Privateers, 15-3.

Norwich ended its undefeated conference season with a 48-27 victory over Castleton.

Daniel Reale, a 21-year-old senior criminal justice major from Burlington, Mass., said, "We are trying to avoid the hype, we know that alumni, and everyone's friends and family are coming to see us play."

On Saturday, the Cadets capped their perfect ECFC record by beating the Mustangs to capure the conference title on Sabine Field.

According to the Northwich athletics Web page, "Freshman RB Orwin Etkins rushed for 269 yards and five touchdowns" for the win. "Etkins, who was named the game's "Most Valuable Player," got Norwich on the scoreboard late in the first quarter when he ran for a 20-yard touchdown. Junior K Ryan Kelly connected on the extra point to give the Cadets a 7-0 lead."

The Web site said, "The Norwich defense, which limited Mount Ida to just 258 yards of total offense, was led by DiMeco (nine tackles, 1.5 tackles-for-loss) and senior LB Mike Ohrenberger (eight tackles).

"Bunch finished with 107 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries, while Drosendahl completed 11-of-23 passes for 159 yards and the one TD.

Norwich finished with 403 yards rushing and 490 yards of total offense. The Cadets possessed the ball for more than 32 minutes in the contest."