FOOTBALL

Box Score 

NORTHFIELD, Vt. - Michael Baraldi completed 12-of-19 passes for 123 yards and three touchdowns to lead St. Lawrence over Norwich, 21-17, in a non-league football game Saturday afternoon at Sabine Field.

The Saints (1-1) scored the game-winning touchdown early in the third quarter when Baraldi hit Connor Hackett with a six-yard pass. The score was set up by the SLU defense, which forced and recovered a Norwich fumble on the Cadets' seven-yard line.

Norwich (0-2) had its best chance to move in front midway through the fourth quarter when the Cadets drove to the St. Lawrence 13-yard line. The Saints' defense stiffened, however, and forced a turnover on downs. The Cadets never seriously threatened again as St. Lawrence held on for the victory.

The Cadets were led by freshman RB James McFadden, who ran for 100 yards on 11 carries. It marked the second straight 100-yard rushing game for the freshman running back, who ripped off a 66-yard run late in the second quarter.

McFadden's long run set up sophomore RB Andrew Fulford's three-yard touchdown plunge, which tied the score at 14-14 with 1:47 to play in the second quarter.

The Cadets took a 17-14 halftime lead when junior K Ryan Kelly booted a 35-yard field goal with one second remaining in the second quarter.

St. Lawrence opened a 14-0 lead after the first quarter as the Saints scored two touchdowns in a span of 19 seconds late in the frame. SLU opened the scoring with 19 seconds remaining in the first quarter when Baraldi hit Hackett with a five-yard TD pass.

Norwich fumbled on its next offensive play from scrimmage, and St. Lawrence took advantage when Baraldi tossed a 33-yard scoring pass to Ethan Sutton on the final play of the first quarter.

The Cadets got back in the game early in the second quarter when freshman QB Kris Sabourin hit junior TE Daniel Pellegrini with an eight-yard touchdown pass on a fourth-and-three play. Sabourin was inserted into the line-up after junior Guerschom Jean-Gilles and senior Chris Gilding both left the game with injuries. Sabourin's TD pass came on his first collegiate play.

NU's defense forced two turnovers in the second half as senior DB Donovan Brown and sophomore DB Charles Stiles both picked off passes in the Cadets' secondary. Senior DE Reza Afsarmanesh led the defensive effort with a game-high 13 tackles and a game-best 2.0 sacks. He also totaled 3.5 tackles-for-loss on the day.

Norwich returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 19, when the Cadets travel to Oneonta, N.Y., to battle non-conference foe Hartwick College at 1 p.m.