Post by Admin on Nov 7, 2003 10:56:37 GMT -5
Norwich, Springfield Square Off with FFC Title on the Line
November 4, 2003
NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Norwich University football team will put their five-game winning streak on the line when the Cadets travel to Springfield College this Saturday to face the league leading Pride with the Freedom Football Conference title hanging in the balance. While Springfield (8-0, 5-0 FFC) can clinch the conference title with a win over Norwich, the Cadets (5-3, 3-1 FFC) are in control of their own destiny. A win over Springfield, which is ranked seventh in the nation in the latest American Football Coaches Association poll, and a win the following week would give the Cadets their first Freedom Football Conference title ever, and with it a bid to the NCAA Division III football playoffs.
"We control our own destiny right now, and I think as a player or coach, that is all that you can ever ask," said Norwich head coach Mike Yesalonia. "We can look ourselves in the mirror an know that we will determine our own fate."
"It’s a big rivalry game for us," said Yesalonia. "I don't know if their players look at it the same way that our guys do. Our kids are very excited about this game and the opportunity that the Norwich University football team has. We beat Springfield two years ago, and our players believe that we can win every time we step on the field. Its their chance to put their mark on the Norwich program."
Last Week:
The Cadets are coming off a bye week after a hard fought, 24-20, win over St. Lawrence on October 25.
"We did some things to hurt ourselves against St. Lawrence," said Yesalonia. "Everything that could go wrong did at times, but we still managed to pull it out."
"When you are playing well, you never want to have a bye week, but we've had a chance to get people healthier, and with Springfield's offense it's big to have a few extra days to prepare."
Last Year:
Norwich jumped out to a 24-14 halftime lead on the Pride, but Springfield scored three times in a 6:22 span in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach en route to a 41-24 win. Eddie Sulton'El ran for 141 yards for the Cadets, and Ben Clark (Skowhegan HS/Skowhegan, ME) completed 20 of 37 passes for 271 yards, but also threw three interceptions.
Kevin Domurat (133 yards rushing) and Tim Lutgens (122) carried much of the load for Springfield in the win.
Coach Yesalonia on Springfield:
"They run triple-option offense which is very different from anyone else we face all year," said Yesalonia. "Defensively they use seven or eight different fronts, so we will need to have our offensive sets trump their defensive sets. They are a very good football team, and I think we are too. This game is as big as it gets at our level. If we were Division I programs, everyone would be talking about this game on TV this week."
Norwich on Offense:
The Cadets offense has balance, with the passing of senior quarterback Ben Clark, and the running of junior Nate Long (Burlington/Burlington, VT) and sophomore Cedric Carvalho (Durfee/Dartmouth, MA).
Clark, who holds a number of the school's career passing records, has thrown for 1,519 yards this season, completing 52 percent of his passes with eight touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
"We'll do some things on offense that will let Ben read what the defense is doing and change the play if he has to," said Yesalonia. "We're going to rely on him to make good decisions at the line of scrimmage."
Carvalho leads the cadets with 697 yards rushing (87.1 per game), while Long has picked up 604 yards in just four games since returning from injury, an average of 151 per game.
The Cadets receiving corps gives Clark plenty of targets, highlighted by the quarterback's younger brother, junior wideout Josh Clark (Skowhegan/Skowhegan, ME). Josh has a team-high 30 catches for 490 yards and four touchdowns. Senior Tom Kennedy (Weymouth/Weymouth, MA) (22-215) and CJ Daley (Orange/Orange, CA) (13-149), and sophomore Andreas Craig (Putnam/Springfield, MA) (15-120) are other top targets. The Cadets should get a boost with the return of senior tight end Josh Creighton (Scituate/Scituate, MA), who missed the last two games with an ankle injury.
Norwich on Defense:
Norwich's young defense will be severely tested on Saturday. The Cadets hope to be a full strength, as senior outside linebacker Taylor Britto (Veterans Memorial/Warwick, RI) missed the St. Lawrence game with a concussion, and sophomore Mike Lober (Bellows Falls/Westminster, VT) suffered a knee injury early in the game against the Saints and missed the entire second half.
"We'll see how they do in practice this week. I'd say they are both questionable right now," said Yesalonia.
If those two can't go, the Cadets would rely of sophomores Chick Weir (Colonie/Albany, NY) and Sam Furlong (Walpole/Walpole, MA) at the outside 'backer position along with junior Drew DeRenzis (Mt. Abraham/Middlebury, VT), who mans the other side and ranks second on the Cadets in tackles with (50) and is tied for the team lead with four interceptions.
Freshmen Greg Abell (Northeast Reg. (Ft. Lauderdale)/Jacksonville, FL) (55 tackles) and Micah Lieberman (Kennedy/Iselin, NJ) (27 tackles) and Jason Henika (Sickles/Tampa, FL) (19 tackles) will play at the inside linebacker.
In the secondary, Norwich has 11 interceptions between Roy Rose (Marshall/San Antonio, TX), Taylor Brown (Durfee/Fall River, MA), and Jamar Rawles (Harding/Bridgeport, CT), but Springfield seldom throws the ball, so their primary duty will be run support and controlling the pitch men on the option.
Winning the battle at the line of scrimmage will be a key to stopping the Pride's rushing attack. Sophomores Jimmy Baker (Brockport/Brockport, NY), Brett Walton (Harding/Bridgeport, CT), and Chris Cadorette (U-32/Montpelier, VT) and junior Anthony Purdy (Rutland/Rutland, VT) will have to give the Cadets a strong push up front.
Scouting Springfield:
The Pride lead the FFC in scoring offense 43.5, and rushing offense 390 yards per game, and total offense (458 yards per game). Their triple option attack is keyed by junior quarterback Ryan Sylvia, who is running for 101 yards per game, and has thrown just 23 passes this season. However, seven of Sylvia's 11 completions have gone for touchdowns.
Lutgens, a junior, leads Springfield in rushing at 108 yards per game, while Domurat, another junior, adds 54 yards per contest.
Defensively, the Pride lead the league in scoring defense, giving opponents 12.2 yards per game, and allows opponents 232 yards per game, the lowest total in the conference.
Junior linebacker Justin Fletcher is the Pride's top tackler with 44 stops, with senior linebacker Jesse Baker adding 41 tackles and a team-high four interceptions.
Senior defensive lineman Jason MacDonald has 21 tackles for a loss
What Norwich Needs to do to win:
"We have to control the ball offensively so that we can keep Springfield's offense off of the field," said Yesalonia. "We need to win the turnover battle. We are plus 15 on the season right now, and with the wishbone offense there is a chance to make Springfield put the ball on the ground and we're going to have to come up with it."
What’s Next:
Norwich hosts Western Connecticut State at Sabine Field next Saturday, November 15 at 1:00. A win over Springfield this week gives the Cadets a chance to win the conference crown with a win over WCSU. The Colonials (5-3, 3-2 FFC) host Kean (NJ) College this week.
Contact NU Sports Information: dcaspole@norwich.edu for more information.
November 4, 2003
NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Norwich University football team will put their five-game winning streak on the line when the Cadets travel to Springfield College this Saturday to face the league leading Pride with the Freedom Football Conference title hanging in the balance. While Springfield (8-0, 5-0 FFC) can clinch the conference title with a win over Norwich, the Cadets (5-3, 3-1 FFC) are in control of their own destiny. A win over Springfield, which is ranked seventh in the nation in the latest American Football Coaches Association poll, and a win the following week would give the Cadets their first Freedom Football Conference title ever, and with it a bid to the NCAA Division III football playoffs.
"We control our own destiny right now, and I think as a player or coach, that is all that you can ever ask," said Norwich head coach Mike Yesalonia. "We can look ourselves in the mirror an know that we will determine our own fate."
"It’s a big rivalry game for us," said Yesalonia. "I don't know if their players look at it the same way that our guys do. Our kids are very excited about this game and the opportunity that the Norwich University football team has. We beat Springfield two years ago, and our players believe that we can win every time we step on the field. Its their chance to put their mark on the Norwich program."
Last Week:
The Cadets are coming off a bye week after a hard fought, 24-20, win over St. Lawrence on October 25.
"We did some things to hurt ourselves against St. Lawrence," said Yesalonia. "Everything that could go wrong did at times, but we still managed to pull it out."
"When you are playing well, you never want to have a bye week, but we've had a chance to get people healthier, and with Springfield's offense it's big to have a few extra days to prepare."
Last Year:
Norwich jumped out to a 24-14 halftime lead on the Pride, but Springfield scored three times in a 6:22 span in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach en route to a 41-24 win. Eddie Sulton'El ran for 141 yards for the Cadets, and Ben Clark (Skowhegan HS/Skowhegan, ME) completed 20 of 37 passes for 271 yards, but also threw three interceptions.
Kevin Domurat (133 yards rushing) and Tim Lutgens (122) carried much of the load for Springfield in the win.
Coach Yesalonia on Springfield:
"They run triple-option offense which is very different from anyone else we face all year," said Yesalonia. "Defensively they use seven or eight different fronts, so we will need to have our offensive sets trump their defensive sets. They are a very good football team, and I think we are too. This game is as big as it gets at our level. If we were Division I programs, everyone would be talking about this game on TV this week."
Norwich on Offense:
The Cadets offense has balance, with the passing of senior quarterback Ben Clark, and the running of junior Nate Long (Burlington/Burlington, VT) and sophomore Cedric Carvalho (Durfee/Dartmouth, MA).
Clark, who holds a number of the school's career passing records, has thrown for 1,519 yards this season, completing 52 percent of his passes with eight touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
"We'll do some things on offense that will let Ben read what the defense is doing and change the play if he has to," said Yesalonia. "We're going to rely on him to make good decisions at the line of scrimmage."
Carvalho leads the cadets with 697 yards rushing (87.1 per game), while Long has picked up 604 yards in just four games since returning from injury, an average of 151 per game.
The Cadets receiving corps gives Clark plenty of targets, highlighted by the quarterback's younger brother, junior wideout Josh Clark (Skowhegan/Skowhegan, ME). Josh has a team-high 30 catches for 490 yards and four touchdowns. Senior Tom Kennedy (Weymouth/Weymouth, MA) (22-215) and CJ Daley (Orange/Orange, CA) (13-149), and sophomore Andreas Craig (Putnam/Springfield, MA) (15-120) are other top targets. The Cadets should get a boost with the return of senior tight end Josh Creighton (Scituate/Scituate, MA), who missed the last two games with an ankle injury.
Norwich on Defense:
Norwich's young defense will be severely tested on Saturday. The Cadets hope to be a full strength, as senior outside linebacker Taylor Britto (Veterans Memorial/Warwick, RI) missed the St. Lawrence game with a concussion, and sophomore Mike Lober (Bellows Falls/Westminster, VT) suffered a knee injury early in the game against the Saints and missed the entire second half.
"We'll see how they do in practice this week. I'd say they are both questionable right now," said Yesalonia.
If those two can't go, the Cadets would rely of sophomores Chick Weir (Colonie/Albany, NY) and Sam Furlong (Walpole/Walpole, MA) at the outside 'backer position along with junior Drew DeRenzis (Mt. Abraham/Middlebury, VT), who mans the other side and ranks second on the Cadets in tackles with (50) and is tied for the team lead with four interceptions.
Freshmen Greg Abell (Northeast Reg. (Ft. Lauderdale)/Jacksonville, FL) (55 tackles) and Micah Lieberman (Kennedy/Iselin, NJ) (27 tackles) and Jason Henika (Sickles/Tampa, FL) (19 tackles) will play at the inside linebacker.
In the secondary, Norwich has 11 interceptions between Roy Rose (Marshall/San Antonio, TX), Taylor Brown (Durfee/Fall River, MA), and Jamar Rawles (Harding/Bridgeport, CT), but Springfield seldom throws the ball, so their primary duty will be run support and controlling the pitch men on the option.
Winning the battle at the line of scrimmage will be a key to stopping the Pride's rushing attack. Sophomores Jimmy Baker (Brockport/Brockport, NY), Brett Walton (Harding/Bridgeport, CT), and Chris Cadorette (U-32/Montpelier, VT) and junior Anthony Purdy (Rutland/Rutland, VT) will have to give the Cadets a strong push up front.
Scouting Springfield:
The Pride lead the FFC in scoring offense 43.5, and rushing offense 390 yards per game, and total offense (458 yards per game). Their triple option attack is keyed by junior quarterback Ryan Sylvia, who is running for 101 yards per game, and has thrown just 23 passes this season. However, seven of Sylvia's 11 completions have gone for touchdowns.
Lutgens, a junior, leads Springfield in rushing at 108 yards per game, while Domurat, another junior, adds 54 yards per contest.
Defensively, the Pride lead the league in scoring defense, giving opponents 12.2 yards per game, and allows opponents 232 yards per game, the lowest total in the conference.
Junior linebacker Justin Fletcher is the Pride's top tackler with 44 stops, with senior linebacker Jesse Baker adding 41 tackles and a team-high four interceptions.
Senior defensive lineman Jason MacDonald has 21 tackles for a loss
What Norwich Needs to do to win:
"We have to control the ball offensively so that we can keep Springfield's offense off of the field," said Yesalonia. "We need to win the turnover battle. We are plus 15 on the season right now, and with the wishbone offense there is a chance to make Springfield put the ball on the ground and we're going to have to come up with it."
What’s Next:
Norwich hosts Western Connecticut State at Sabine Field next Saturday, November 15 at 1:00. A win over Springfield this week gives the Cadets a chance to win the conference crown with a win over WCSU. The Colonials (5-3, 3-2 FFC) host Kean (NJ) College this week.
Contact NU Sports Information: dcaspole@norwich.edu for more information.