NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Mount Ida College football team saw a gutsy call pay off on Saturday afternoon when they converted a two-point conversion with 55 seconds left to play, earning them a 15-14 victory over Norwich University in the first Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) game of the season.
That conversion would also prove historic for the Mount Ida football program, as it gave the Mustangs their first ever win in Northfield in nine tries, dating back to 2001.
The Cadets led Mount Ida (1-3, 1-0 ECFC) in virtually every offensive category, but the visiting Mustangs snuck out of Northfield with only their third-ever win against Norwich. Across those three victories, the Mustangs have only won by a combined six points.
Trailing by a 14-7 margin in the fourth quarter, Mount Ida quarterback Jack Sheehan (St. Petersburg, Fla.) threw a touchdown pass to senior Matt Greenman (Portsmouth, R.I.) from 26 yards out to cut the deficit to 14-13.
Greenman then took the snap on the extra point try and tossed the two-point conversion successfully, propelling the visitors to a 15-14 lead.
After a booming 62-yard kickoff by Mount Ida's Tyler Rogers (Bridgewater, Mass.), Norwich was able to gain 23 yards in the final minute. On fourth-and-five, however, a pass by Norwich quarterback Philippe Bazinet (Otterburn Park, Quebec, Canada) did not reach teammate Dayvon Medina (Lauderhill, Fla.) – the Mustangs took a knee on the game's final play, securing the win in thrilling fashion.
Norwich held statistical advantages in net rushing yards (119-to-83), passing yards (158-to-121) and total offensive yards (277-to-204), but the Cadets offense committed five turnovers, including three interceptions and two lost fumbles. Mount Ida also committed nearly 100 yards in penalties that, ultimately, did not hurt the team in its quest for victory.
Sheehan put his team ahead by a 6-0 margin with 3:06 to go in the first quarter after taking the ball home himself for a one-yard run. Following a Tyler Rogers point-after, the Cadets would get the ball back and tie the game on the next drive on senior Tyler Simmons' (Auburn, Mass.) first career touchdown reception.
An extra-point attempt was made by senior Wesley Medeiros (Gilford, N.H.), tying the game at seven heading into halftime. In the third quarter, Bazinet would throw for his second touchdown of the game as senior Trystan Colaire (Pickering, Ontario, Canada) would haul in the 39-yard pass and, with a Medeiros point-after, send his team to a 14-7 lead.
Both teams traded offensive possessions with regularity throughout the game as Mount Ida and Norwich were only a combined 8-for-30 on third down – the Mustangs punted nine total times while Norwich was forced to send the ball away on five occasions.
Colaire finished with 98 all-purpose yards, gaining 50 yards on kick returns and 48 yards through the air. Senior Quincy Williams (Brossard, Quebec, Canada) ran for 89 yards on 22 carries while classmate Pierre Noel (Manchester, N.H.) hauled in six passes for 65 total yards.
Seniors Derek Lotito (Swanzey, N.H.) and Benjamin Hummer (Annapolis, Md.) each recorded five solo and three assisted tackles, leading the team with eight total takedowns. Senior Jepthe Soulouque (Everett, Mass.) would posted two tackles for a loss of 10 yards, bringing down the opposing quarterback for a nine-yard sack. Senior Cody Lindell (Cranston, R.I.) also picked up a 10-yard sack.
Mount Ida was led defensively by Sean Chinova (Watertown, Conn.) and his 11 total tackles. Dwayne Hunter-Parker (Waterbury, Conn.) led the way with two interceptions for the Mustangs, returning the wayward Norwich passes a total of 19 yards. The squad also combined for seven tackles for a loss of 13 yards.
Mount Ida returns home next weekend to host Castleton at 1:00 PM at Alumni Field.
Norwich will look for better fortune next Saturday, Oct. 8 as it heads to Becker College for a 2 p.m. ECFC tilt.