HACKETT AND DEFENSE LEAD SAINTS TO

VICTORY IN 2007 OPENER

Sept. 8: The St. Lawrence University football team, paced by sophomore running back Connor Hackett and assisted by a heads-up defensive effort, defeated Norwich University in the 2007 season opener in Northfield, VT on Saturday afternoon. The Saints (1-0, 0-0) won their fifth consecutive season opener, including their third straight against the Cadets, improving to 27-25 all time against Norwich.

 

The Cadets (1-1, 0-0) received the football to open the contest, and wasted little time getting the home crowd excited on Homecoming. After the Saints had appeared to force Norwich to a three-and-out, the visiting team took an offsides penalty that kept the Cadets’ offense on the field. From there, junior running back Darnell Jackson went to work, helping the Cadets move the chains, and on a fresh set of downs, quarterback Chris Gilding completed a 21 yard pass to senior Nate Stoffoleno to set up first and goal from just inside the 10 yard line. On 2 nd down, Gilding’s pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage, but landed in the arms of sophomore E.J. Flannigan. Flannigan shook off a tackle and scampered across the goal line for a Norwich touchdown. The extra point gave Norwich an early 7-0 advantage on a scoring drive that took a mere 3:24.

 

However, the Saints offense, led by senior quarterback Brad Heil, responded with style. After opening their first drive of 2007 from their own 41 yard line, Heil found sophomore Anthony Patterson to move the chains into Norwich territory. The young offensive line, who gave Heil solid protection throughout the day, then opened up a big hole for Hackett, who carried the ball all the way down to the Cadets’ 28 yard line. After Heil found Patterson yet again in the slot to set up 1 st and goal from the three yard line, the Scarlet and Brown evened the score at 7-7 on a touchdown pass to junior fullback Richard Lagos. James Pinkham added the extra point to tie things up.

 

Though the game was on pace to be a high scoring affair, both defenses settled in on the next few series. The Saints forced their first turnover of the season when sophomore Gerard Bryant scooped up a loose snap to give his team great field position. However, the drive would stall on the Norwich two yard line, and Pinkham took the field to attempt the field goal. His kick from 23 yards, which was the first play of the second quarter, clanked off of the left goal post and stayed wide, keeping the score 7-7.

 

On the Cadets’ next possession, junior cornerback Andy Welkley made an impressive open field tackle on Jackson for a two yard loss. The play forced the Cadets into a passing situation, and Gilding’s bid downfield was intercepted by free safety Matt Sivright. A penalty on the return set the Saints up in Norwich territory on the 36 yard line. However, the Saints offense couldn’t get going after two bad snaps, and Norwich’s defense forced a three-and-out.

 

The Saints, who had the majority of quality scoring chances in the first half, again set up shop inside the Norwich ten yard line for a 1 st and goal opportunity. The Cadets defense stood their ground, though, and forced another field goal try from Pinkham. This time, a faulty snap led to a blocked kick, and Norwich was back in control at their own 20 yard line.

 

Although St. Lawrence’s offense was unable to punch the ball over the goal line, their defense was certainly up to the task of containing the Cadets’ offense, led by their cornerbacks Welkley and Devaun McFarland. Welkely stepped in front of pass downfield to set up a long third down, and fellow junior Devaun McFarland then showed his talents on the opposite side, keeping Flannigan from catching a long pass, forcing a Norwich punt with less than five minutes to play in the first half.

 

Heil had the Saints offense threatening yet again in the final minute of the half, as he had his group down to the Norwich 15 yard line. On 3 rd and 9, though, he made his first mistake of the game, throwing a pass into the end zone that was intercepted and knelt on for a touchback.

 

With a mere 46 seconds left in the half, it appeared Norwich would simply run out the clock and head to the locker room with the score tied at 7-7. However, Gilding caught everyone off guard, as he threw a swing pass behind Jackson that hit the ground and stopped on the three yard line. Jackson, thinking the pass was incomplete, ran away from the ball. St. Lawrence’s Charles Haydock, without hearing a whistle, ran straight to the ball, picked it up and marched into the end zone, as the ball was ruled a lateral. The score gave the Saints a 13-7 lead with 39 seconds to play in the half, as Pinkham’s extra point attempt failed.

 

Though the Cadets were clearly flustered, they did not give in, as they took the squib kick near midfield and again decided to try to put points on the board. They got the ball down to the St. Lawrence 22 yard line with five seconds remaining in the half, setting up a 40 yard field goal try for sophomore Chris Seifert. The Jackson, NJ native drilled a kick that sailed right between the uprights, to bring the score to 13-10 in favor of the Saints at the end of the first half.

 

Leading by three points, the Saints opened the second half on offense from their own 30 yard line. Hackett and Patterson continued to shine, helping the visitors pick up two first downs and enter Norwich territory at the 43 yard line. However, a sack by sophomore Reza Afsarmanesh set the offense back to a 2 nd and 18 situation, from which they could not recover, and the Saints were forced to punt.

 

The game turned a bit sloppy from there, as several turnovers ended momentum-building opportunities for both teams. Though the Saints’ Chris Leon intercepted Gilding, and the special teams unit blocked a punt, they could not punch the ball into the end zone, as Norwich came away with an interception of their own on the goal line on the first play from scrimmage in the fourth quarter.

 

After McFarland broke up a crucial third down chance, the ball was back in Heil’s hands and he did what worked for the St. Lawrence offense all day: he handed the ball to Hackett. Hackett helped the Saints move across the 50 yard line and into enemy territory. Then, on 3 rd and 14, Heil found his senior All-Conference wide receiver Mike O’Donnell along the near sideline. The Haverhill, MA native snuck just past the first down marker, giving his team a fresh set of downs.

 

After a false start penalty, Heil set up a screen pass to Carl Festa, who got behind junior offensive lineman Tim LaRose and took the ball to the end zone for a 30 yard touchdown. Pinkham’s extra point gave St. Lawrence a 20-10 cushion with 8:51 to play in regulation.

 

Gilding and the Norwich offense looked to respond and keep his team in the game, as he led the Cadets deep into Saints territory after an important third down conversation pass to Flannigan was completed down to the St. Lawrence 17 yard line. After an open field tackle by Welkley set up a 3 rd and 2, an incomplete pass brought Seifert on to the field for a 34 yard field goal attempt. He once again came through for Norwich, splitting the uprights to bring the score to 20-13 with 4:20 to play.

 

The Saints, looking to use some clock, set up 1 st and 10 from their own 17 yard line. A pair of rushes by Hackett set up a big 3 rd and 4 with just under three minutes remaining. With the Norwich crowd on their feet, Heil faked the hand-off and looked for an open receiver. Unfortunately, there wasn’t one in sight and the quarterback was sacked back at the 17 yard line. After a nice punt off the foot of Matt Popov, Norwich took over 1 st and 10 at their own 44 yard line, 56 yards from perhaps tying the game.

 

The Cadets turned to quarterback Andy Holz for the tying score, but a short run and an incomplete pass set up a 3 rd and 9 with only 1:51 on the clock. Holz delivered a strike to senior tight end Justin Collens, which gave Norwich a first down and new life at the Saints’ 34 yard line. On first down, though, a flag was thrown for offensive holding, bringing the ball back to the 44 yard line. On 2 nd and 19, Holz aired one out for rookie George Whigham near the St. Lawrence goal line, but the ball was overthrown, setting up a long third down pass, which fell short of Flannigan. On 4 th down and 19 from the Saints 43 yard line, the game was on Holz’s shoulders, as his team was with only one more time out. He fired a pass over the middle that was again intended for Whigham, but the ball hit the turf, giving the Saints the football and the opportunity to kneel on the ball for their first win of the 2007 season, 20-13.

 

“I think that was a gutsy performance by both teams,” said Saints head coach Chris Phelps. “I thought our guys played well and dug deep when we needed them to.”

 

The Saints finished with a 353 to 234 edge in yards, as Hackett finished with 163 yards on the ground compared to Jackson’s 109.

 

The Scarlet and Brown will head to Alfred, NY with a win under their belt next Saturday to take on the Saxons at 1:00pm.