Box Score Box Score
SPRINGFIELD Mass. – Senior quarterback
Justin Walz (Groton, CT) passed for three touchdowns and ran for another score as Western New England College opened its 40th football season with a thrilling 28-27 victory over first-time Norwich University Saturday afternoon (Sept. 5).
Walz completed 27-of-48 passes for 386 yards (the third highest total of his career) and raised his career school record passing total to 5,194 yards.
His final scoring strike was 35-yard to freshman
Mike Graham (Norwalk, CT), which broke a 21-21 tie with 7:32 left in the third period. Graham finished with four receptions for a game-high 80 yards.
WNEC took a 14-0 lead on a seven-yard pass from Walz to sophomore running back
JJ Jachym (Milford, CT) in the first period and a one-yard run by Walz 5:01 into the second quarter.
Norwich rallied behind the freshman running back
James McFadden (Sunrise, FL) who scored three straight touchdowns, including two in the second stanza (34 and 33 yards) as the teams were deadlocked at 14-14 heading into intermission.
McFadden (9 carries, game high 143 yards) gave the Cadets their first lead on a 21-yard scamper at the 12:04 mark of the third quarter.
Western New England College rallied behind Walz who fired a 23-yard pass to sophomore receiver
Kenny Muhlback (Groton, CT) that knotted the contest with 9:09 left in the period. Walz and Muhlack were teammates at Fitch High School in Connecticut along with senior wide receiver
Rob Chiaccio who chipped-in with three catches for 36 yards.
The Golden Bears' defense forced three turnovers in the third quarter as junior defensive back
Pat Lesko (Seymour, CT) and freshman defensive end
James Georges (Stamford, CT) each had fumble recoveries, which led to the tying and winning touchdowns. Sophomore linebacker
Justin Bailey (Northborough, MA) also had an interception.
Norwich had a chance to tie the game when sophomore running back
Andrew Fulford (Gloucester, MA) scored on a one-yard run with 13:34 left in the game, but the Cadets missed the extra point attempt.
WNEC then drove to the Norwich five, but missed a short field goal attempt. The Golden Bears took over on downs with 4:49 remaining and went from their own 31 to the Cadets 38 before turning the ball over on a fumble.
Freshman defensive back
Corey Brown (Worcester, MA) then preserved the win with an interception at the WNEC 37 with 1:04 left.
The teams combined for 833 yards with Western New England College out-gaining Norwich by a 470 to 363 margin (including 306 on the ground).
Senior
Chris Vaillant (Holliston, MA) had a game high five catches for 45 yards. Jachym caught four passes for 58 yards and added 40 yards rushing. Senior
Jake Field (Bedminster, NJ) also contributed four receptions for 49 yards and made all four extra point attempts.
Junior linebackers
Dylan Chandler (Durham, ME) and
Joe Begnal (Waterbury, CT) led the WNEC defense with 10 and nine tackles, respectively.
McFadden also added 98 yards in kickoff returns and had one reception to finish with 240 total yards in an outstanding college debut.
Senor running back
Kyle Marzeoti (Billerica, MA) gained 77 yards on the ground. Junior quarterback
Guerschom Jean-Gilles (Coral Springs, FL) totaled 102 yards with 57 coming through the air and 45 on the ground. Senior defensive back
Donovan Brown (Corona, CA) recorded eight stops and had a forced fumble recovery.
Senior back
Dom Sorrentine (Wakefield, MA) and junior linebacker
Mike Ohrenberger (Framingham, MA) also recovered fumbles while sophomore defensive back
Charles Stiles (Highspire, PA) had an interception
