Box Score NEW LONDON, Conn. – Justin Bryant rushed for 125 yards and the eventual game winning touchdown on a 1-yard run with seven minutes left as Norwich beat Coast Guard 24-21 to capture the Mug in the 75th meeting between the two teams and the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) opener for both teams.
Bryant carried 33 times for 125 yards while quarterback Mitchell Theal was 16 of 33 for 274 yards with a pair of touchdowns and three interceptions in the win.
Trevor Chase had eight receptions for 155 yards and two touchdowns while Haleola Thomas had four catches for 107 yards in the win for Norwich (2-3, 1-0)
Jared Colletti had 20 carries for a career-high 195 yards a touchdown to lead Coast Guard (2-3, 0-1). Tafari Wall was 7 of 24 for 85 yards with a pair of interceptions
Zach Buchy's 30-yard field goal on the Cadets opening possession for a 3-0 lead with 10:36 left in the first quarter the only points of the first quarter.
Ethan Lasher's 80-yard interception return for a touchdown with 8:21 left in the first half gave the Bears a 7-3 lead and closed the first half scoring.
The teams would exchange punches early in the second half as Norwich scored on its first play a 78-yard touchdown pass from Theal to Chase to take a 10-7 lead.
Coast Guard would respond scoring on its first play of the second half, an 84-yard run by Colletti to regain the lead 14-10 with 14:25 left in the third quarter.
Theal would again find Chase, a 5-yard touchdown, with 9:10 left giving the Cadets a 17-14 lead.
Wall gave the Bears the lead on a 2-yard run with 12:05 left in the game for a 21-17 lead.
Norwich's game winning drive was 11 plays and 74 yards capped on the Bryant 1-yard run, they converted a pair of third downs to keep the drive alive.
Coast Guard would go three and out and Norwich got the ball back with 6:02 left and ran the clock converting on fourth down twice to secure the win.
Norwich finished with 492 yards of offense (274 passing, 218 rushing) while Coast Guard had 314 yards in the game (229 rushing and 85 passing).
Ethan Lasher had a pair of interceptions and forced a fumble for Coast Guard while Mike Palermo had a career-high 15 tackles, 14 solo for Coast Guard.
Jeremy Henault had two interceptions for Norwich and a team-high five tackles.
Coast Guard is back in action on Saturday at Springfield in a NEWMAC game at 3:30.
