Football Defeats Norwich 27-21 in Overtime in ECAC Northeast Bowl
Northfield, Vt. —The Framingham State University football team rallied from a 14 point first quarter deficit to defeat the host Norwich University Cadets 27-21 in overtime in the ECAC Northeast Bowl Game played this afternoon at Norwich. The Rams, who were making their first ECAC Bowl Game appearance, finish their best season to date with a 9-2 record, while the Cadets finish 2010 8-3.
Framingham State freshman running back Melikke Van Alstyne (Salem, Mass.) was named the game's most valuable player as he rushed for 137 yards on 22 carries with two touchdowns including the game winner on an 18-yard run in overtime. Quarterback Kurt Leone (Marshfield, Mass.), who was sacked four times in the game, completed 22 of 38 pass attempts for 274 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Sophomore wide receiver Alex Avery (Milford, Mass.) made nine catches for 143 yards and score, while junior James McCarthy (Newton, Mass.) made five catches for 83 yards and a touchdown.
The Rams defense, which forced turnovers or three and outs on the Cadets final four possessions of the game in the fourth quarter and overtime, was led by freshman Tom Cochrane (Plainville, Mass.), who picked up a team-high 11 tackles, and senior linebacker Joe Treacy (Wakefield, Mass.), who picked up ten tackles and a forced a fumble. Anthony Pappagallo (Malden, Mass.) and James Muirhead (Middleboro, Mass.) had nine tackles apiece, while senior Adam Emery (Dorchester, Mass.) made four stops and intercepted Norwich quarterback Kris Sabourin on the Cadets overtime possession.
Norwich University wasted no getting on the board as they took the opening possession of the game and drove 75 yards on 10 plays for the game's first touchdown – a one yard run by Danny Triplett with 10 minutes remaining in the first.
The Rams turned the ball over on downs on their first two possessions and the Cadets extended their lead to 14-0 with 3:25 remaining in the first quarter when Sabourin hit Chris Denton with a 57 yard touchdown pass.
The Rams offense, which struggled to move the ball for most of the first half, was finally able to break into the scoring column with five seconds left in the half as Avery caught a 45 yard touchdown strike from Leone. After Phil Cosmos (Natick, Mass.) converted the extra point, the Rams headed into the half trailing 14-7.
Norwich regained the two touchdown advantage on their first possession of the second half as Sabourin, who finished the game with 235 passing yards and three interceptions, and Denton hooked up for their second touchdown of the game - this one a 33 yard pass with 10:53 remaining in the third.
On Norwich's next possession, the Rams held the Cadets to a three and out and they were forced to punt from their own nine yard line. Jason Patterson (Attleboro, Mass.) took the punt at the Norwich 4 yard line and returned it all the way to the 32 yard line setting up the Rams with great field possession. The Rams offense took advantage of the short field as they moved the ball down to the five yard line. Van Alstyne powered into the end zone from five yards out to pull the Rams back within one touchdown at 21-14.
The Rams defense forced two punts and an interception on the Cadets next three possessions, giving the offense a chance to tie the game. With 5:58 remaining in the game, Leone hit McCarthy with a 41 yard touchdown pass and after Cosmos' extra point the game was tied at 21-21. The touchdown pass was Leone's school record 33rd of the season, and the TD reception was McCarthy's school record 22nd of the year.
Framingham State had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation as they took over possession, following a Norwich punt, on the Norwich 49 yard line with 2:23 left in the game. Leone completed a short pass to Patterson and Van Alstyne rushed for three yards setting up a 3rd and four. Leone found Avery over the middle for a 15 yard gain giving the Rams a first down. After a couple of penalties and an incompletion, Leone rushed for six yards giving the Rams a 3rd and one on the Norwich 19 yard line with 22 seconds remaining. The Rams gave Van Alstyne the ball and he rushed for 18 yards setting the Rams up with a first and goal with 15 seconds on the clock. After a time out, senior running back Dave Leach (Chelmsford, Mass.) took the snap out of the wildcat formation and was stopped just short of the goal line as time expired before the Rams could run another play sending the game to overtime.
Norwich had possession first in overtime and Emery intercepted Sabourin on the Cadet's first play. After Leone gained seven yards on first down, on the next play Van Alstyne scored the deciding touchdown from 18 yards out.
Championship Team Photo taken by Jennifer Langille.