(Photo courtesy Mark Collier/Norwich University)
NORTHFIELD, Vt. – Senior running back Al Georgio (West Greenwich, R.I.) busted out of his mini-slump in a big way, rushing for a career-high 247 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Norwich University football team to a 28-19 victory over Mount Ida on Saturday at Sabine Field at Haynes Family Stadium.
Georgio's 247 yards were the ninth most in all of Division III this season in a single game and he nearly tripled his total yards from the previous four games this season.
Senior defensive back Dane Pallotto (Westbrook, Conn.) had two interceptions, including returning one for a touchdown in the second quarter to lead the Cadets' defensive efforts on the day.
Norwich (3-2, 1-1 ECFC) picked up its first league win of the season and improved to 2-1 at home this season in front of a crowd of over 4,000 on Parents & Family Weekend.
Georgio picked apart the Mount Ida (1-4, 1-1 ECFC) defense all day, especially in the first quarter when he ran for 139 yards on 16 carries and scored both of his touchdowns. He rushed for 51 yards on NU's opening drive before an interception derailed the momentum deep in Mount Ida territory.
However, on the next possession Georgio punched it into the end zone for the first time this season on the ground. He cut through the heart of the Mount Ida defense and scampered in for a 19-yard touchdown run to put the Cadets up 7-0 with a successfulWes Medeiros (Gilford, N.H) point after attempt.
After the Norwich defense forced a three-and-out, the Cadets hit the Mustangs with another healthy dose of Georgio runs mixed in with two carries from freshman Quincy Williams (Brossard, Quebec) for three and 12 yards. Georgio notched his second touchdown of the day from five yards out to make it 14-0 Norwich with 3:13 left in the first quarter.
Norwich increased its lead to 21-0 just 54 seconds into the second quarter when a 22-yard rush from Georgio down to the Mount Ida 2-yard line on the first play of the quarter set up a two-yard touchdown pass by senior quarterback Keyen Foley (Hemet, Calif.) toRobert Rapoza (Mansfield, Mass.).
Mount Ida finally got on the board with 5:30 left in the first half when senior quarterback Jawad Yatim found sophomore wide receiver Matt Greenman for a 27-yard touchdown pass to cut the Norwich lead to 21-7 following a successful PAT from Tyler Rodgers.
Pallotto seized the momentum back for Norwich though with 2:36 left in the half when he picked off a Yatim pass and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown to push the Norwich lead to 28-7 heading to halftime.
Mount Ida regrouped at halftime and had the better of the play in the second half. The Mustangs cut into the Norwich lead again with 7:59 left in the third quarter when Yatim found Nick Hewitt for a 14-yard touchdown pass. Rodgers kick missed to the left to make it 28-13 Norwich.
Mount Ida scored again with 11:42 left in the fourth quarter when Yatim hit Greenman again for a five-yard touchdown pass to make it 28-19. The Mustangs went for two but Norwich sacked Yatim before he had a chance to get a pass off.
Norwich went three-and-out on its next possession to give Mount Ida the ball again with 9:55 left trailing by nine. The Mustangs worked the ball up the field with three straight runs by Melquan Pinkney for three, three and 19 yards respectively. The drive stalled on third and 18 though when Pallotto picked off Yatim again and returned the ball 45 yards down to the Mount Ida 30.
Norwich ran Georgio six straight times to run the clock down and then attempted a 40-yard field goal but Medeiros' bid was tipped at the line and didn't reach the goalposts.
Mount Ida had one last possession with 1:15 left but it ended with senior defensive back Nael Pierre-Louis (Cumberland, R.I.) picking off Yatim for the third time in the game at the Norwich 18 yard line to seal the win.
Pinkney rushed 17 times for 138 yards for Mount Ida, while Yatim went 13-for-31 passing with 118 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions. Greenman had five catches for 63 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Mustangs' receivers.
Foley finished 4-for-11 passing for 46 yards and one touchdown. Rapoza had two catches for 23 yards and touchdown to lead the Norwich receivers.
Mount Ida sophomore linebacker Sean Chinova had 14 tackles, including three for loss to lead the Mustangs defense. Classmate Mamour Samb had 11 tackles as well for Mount Ida.
Norwich senior linebackers Jimmy Labell (Stanhope, N.J.) and Matt LaFevre (Milford, N.J.) each had seven tackles to lead the Cadets. Freshman defensive back Gabriel Barton (Riverside, Calif.) had six tackles, including three for loss, a sack and a pass breakup as well.
The Cadets combined for five sacks with Barton, Addison Nye (Hooksett, N.H.), Kyle Funesti (Hillsdale, N.J.), Gary Gladden (Boynton Beach, Fla.) andMatthew Ulufanua (Brick, N.J.) each notching one.
Norwich hits the road for two straight weeks, traveling to Becker and then Anna Maria the following Saturday. The Cadets will take on Becker at 2 p.m. and Anna Maria at 3 p.m. Norwich's next home game will be on Nov. 1 when it hosts defending ECFC co-champion Gallaudet at noon on Sabine Field at Haynes Family Stadium.
