Cadets finish season this weekend with road game against Catholic University of America
On Senior Day on Saturday on Sabine Field at Haynes Family Stadium, Norwich University honored its seniors and senior linebacker Zev Motew shined again, adding to his team-leading tackle total and leading a Cadets defense that forced a safety against visiting Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
But WPI scored a touchdown in every quarter and won, 28-2.
Norwich (2-7 overall, 1-4 in the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference) had 220 yards in total offense, matched WPI for third-down efficiency (36%) and nearly scored in the second quarter. A 17-play 80-yard drive put the ball at WPI’s 1-yard line and Cadets junior running back Nate Parady tried to run the ball into the end zone on third-and-goal and fourth-and-goal. WPI thwarted him both times.
Cadets quarterback Rashawn Fraser completed nine of 20 passes for 88 yards and rushed for 63 yards to lead Norwich’s offense. Parady and fellow running back Jehric Hackney, a sophomore, combined for 71 yards rushing; wide receivers Trevor Chase, a junior, and Haleola Thomas, a freshman, combined for 80 yards on six catches.
Defense delivered Norwich’s brightest highlight in the second quarter, forcing WPI to punt from its 6-yard line and recording the safety when the Engineers’ punter fumbled the snap and the ball rolled through the end zone. Motew had 12 tackles to push his season total to 88. Junior linebacker Patrick Keefe intercepted his second pass of the season.
For WPI, (2-6 overall,1-3 in conference), senior quarterback Brendan Olexa completed 15 of 25 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns. Four different players scored touchdowns for the Engineers.
At halftime, the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference honored longtime Norwich Athletic Director Tony Mariano for his commitment to Norwich University and his contributions to establishing the conference’s football. Mariano will retire after 44 years at Norwich University when sports schedules complete in the spring.
Norwich University will finish its 2021 football season Saturday in Washington, D.C., against Catholic University of America (5-3 overall, 3-1 in conference).
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