Sports News
Sept. 29, 2007
Norwich Falls To No. 22 Alfred 45-21
NORTHFIELD, Vt. - Paul Keeley threw for 290 yards and three touchdowns, and Vinson Hendrix rushed for 108 yards and added two rushing touchdowns as No. 22 Alfred defeated Norwich, 45-21, in an Empire 8 contest Saturday afternoon at Sabine Field.
The Cadets (2-3, 0-1 Empire 8) trailed 35-0 midway through the third quarter, but refused to quit, outscoring the Saxons, 21-10, over the game’s final 17 minutes.
NU freshman quarterback Guerschom Jean-Gilles connected on 26-of-42 passes for a career-high 201 yards to lead the Cadets’ passing game. Norwich junior running back Darnell Jackson rushed for a team-high 68 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while junior running back Lemi Joyner scored his first TD at as a Cadet. Freshman wide receiver George Whigham caught six passes for a team-best 75 yards.
Alfred (4-0, 2-0 Empire 8) took control of the game early, as the Saxons received the opening kickoff and proceeded to march 75 yards on eight plays for a touchdown. Keeley hit Saucobie Riley with a 33-yard touchdown pass to cap the drive and put AU on top 7-0. After trading turnovers, Alfred doubled its lead when Hendrix ran for a three-yard touchdown.
Keeley tossed his second touchdown pass of the game in the second quarter, and Hendrix hit pay dirt a second time just before halftime as Alfred took a 28-0 lead into the intermission.
After the Saxons opened up their largest lead of the game following a 47-yard touchdown pass from Keeley to Riley, NU dug in and fought back.
Joyner put the Cadets on the scoreboard with 2:11 remaining in the third quarter when he took the handoff and rumbled into the end zone from 11 yards out. The rugged back shook several tacklers and eventually dove across the goal line with defenders draped all over him.
Jackson added a pair of rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter, scoring from seven yards out at the 11:49 mark before plunging in from one-yard out at the 2:42 mark.
NU’s comeback attempt was aided by a pair of successful onsides kicks. Norwich kicker Chris Seifert produced a pair of perfect kicks, and sophomore wide receiver E.J. Flannigan was able to corral both to give the Cadets possession of the ball.
Norwich was led defensively by freshman linebacker Jason Springer, who made a game-high 10 tackles.
NU amassed 300 yards of total offense, and the Cadets racked up 20 first downs. Norwich won the time of possession battle, holding onto the ball for 32:29. The Cadets did turn the ball over four times, however, while Alfred only committed one gaffe.
Norwich begins a two-game road trip on Saturday, Oct., 6, when the Cadets travel to Ithaca, N.Y., to tangle with the Ithaca Bombers in an Empire 8 contest. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
