Posted: Sep 17, 2011
Oneonta, N.Y. – The Hartwick University football team scored 37 unanswered points to erase a 7-0 deficit en route to a 37-14 victory over Norwich University Saturday, Sept. 17 in non-conference action at Wright Stadium.
Despite seeing its season record drop to 0-3, Norwich managed 277 yards of total offense against its host. A large share of the attack came from the running game. Junior quarterback Kris Sabourin (Georgia, Vt.) topped the chart with 104 yards on 18 carries. The Cadets' signal caller went to the air for the Maroon and Gold's first score, though.
Closing a 64-yard scoring march, Sabourin hit sophomore wide receiver Derius Silas (Miami Gardens, Fla.) with a 39-yard touchdown pass to stake the Cadets to the lead. From that point, Hartwick (2-1) responded quickly, also marching the ball into the end zone the first time they touched it. Quarterback Dan Brainard threw a 12-yard fade to Jordan Wilkins to cap off a 12-play, nearly six minute drive and knot the score at 7-7.
Following a Sabourin interception, Hartwick added the first of three successful field goal attempts by Alex Tesoriero. He connected from 30 yards out to put the Hawks up 10-7. The home teams' special teams unit came up big on the team's next score as well, when Harley Edwards returned a punt for 40 yards and a touchdown to stretch the lead to 17-7. Anthony
Casimano added a one-yard touchdown run to make it 24-7 going into the half.
Casimano would strike again to start the third quarter when he capped off a six-play, 62-yard drive with a three-yard scamper into the end zone, running the Hawk advantage to 31-7. Tesorio rounded out the Hartwick scoring for the day with back-to-back field goals to increase the score to 37-7.
Norwich captured its second touchdown when senior runningback Andrew Fulford (Gloucester, Mass.) ran it in from six yards out in the closing stages. Fulford added 69 yards and a score on 15 carries to the rushing attack of Coach Mark Murnyack's squad. Sabourin went six-for-17 passing for 72 yards and a touchdown through the air.
Sophomore linebacker Stephen Gilmore (Norton, Mass.) had a game-high 10 tackles for the defense including three for losses. Sophomore linebacker Jimmy Labell (Stanhope, N.J.), senior linebacker Joe Gumbrewicz (Oxford, Conn.) and junior defensive lineman Matt Simonelli (Sciutate, R.I.) each added seven stops for NU.
The Cadets open Eastern Collegiate Football Conference play when they host Becker College next weekend. Kickoff is set for 1:30 at Sabine Field. The game highlights the campus' 2011 Parents Weekend celebration.
