FOOTBALL

Football: Springfield Defeats Norwich In Shootout, 54-42

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Darnell Jackson rushed for a career-high 268 yards and three touchdowns, but it was not enough as the Norwich football team lost to Springfield, 54-42, on Saturday afternoon at Stagg Field.

Sophomore quarterback Chris Gilding added three touchdown passes for the Cadets, who finish their 2007 season with a 2-8 record (0-6 Empire 8).

Springfield (4-6, 2-4 Empire 8) was led by Chris Sharpe, who rolled up 442 yards of total offense and accounted for five touchdowns. Sharpe rushed for 276 yards and three touchdowns, and added 166 passing yards and a pair of aerial scores.

The Cadets, who had scored a combined 42 points in their first five Empire 8 contests, exploded offensively. Unfortunately, Norwich turned the ball over five times, and the NU defense yielded 594 yards of total offense to Springfield.

Norwich took the game's opening kickoff and marched right down the field. The drive culminated in Chris Gilding's 17-yard touchdown pass to Bill Valenzi, which put the Cadets on top 7-0 at the 12:46 mark.

After Springfield took a 14-7 lead with consecutive touchdowns, the Cadets evened the count when Jackson scored on a 67-yard run.

Springfield retook the lead, 21-14, early in the second quarter, but Norwich once again tied the score when Jackson ran for a seven-yard touchdown midway through the period. Springfield registered the final touchdown of the half with just 1:03 to play before the break, giving the Pride a 28-21 halftime lead.

The game swung in Springfield's favor early in the second half when the Pride scored three touchdowns in the first 5:09 of play to build a commanding 48-21 lead.

Jackson added his third TD run of the day, a 37-yard jaunt, midway through the third quarter to pull Norwich to within 48-28.

Gilding threw a pair of fourth quarter touchdown passes, hitting Justin Collens from five yards out, and finding Dom Sorrentino from 30 yards out, to round out the scoring.

Gilding completed 14-of-29 passes for 166 yards and three touchdowns to lead the NU passing game.

Zach Sucharski paced the Cadets' defense with a game-high 13 tackles. Dan Reale added 12 tackles, while Richard Cumby chipped in 11 stops.