Castleton, VT - The Castleton State College football tem suffered a 48-27 loss at the hands of visiting Norwich University Saturday afternoon in Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) action Saturday afternoon at Spartan Stadium. The two teams battled it out in the inaugural Vermont Maple Sap Bucket Championship, in which the winner is awarded the rotating trophy fashioned from an antique maple sap bucket. Better than 3400 fans watched the first collegiate football game between Vermont institutions since 1991, when Norwich last played Middlebury. With the win the Cadets finish off a perfect, 6-0 regular season in ECFC play (7-3 overall). Norwich will host Mount Ida College next Saturday in the inaugural ECFC Championship at Sabine Field in Northfield, Vermont. Castleton's first season comes to a close at 3-6 overall and 1-5 in conference play.

The Spartans drew first blood, marching the opening drive 56 yards on six plays for a touchdown. Tyler Carpenter (Fort Edward, NY) hauled in a Shane Brozowski (Rensselaer, NY) pass for a 14-yard touchdown and early 6-0 lead. Luis Robitaille (Poughkeepsie, NY) banged home the point after attempt, making it 7-0 with 12:06 remaining in the first quarter.

Norwich answered with a touchdown on its first-drive, as Andrew Fulford (Gloucester, MA) capped a six-play, 59-yard drive with a seven-yard touchdown run. Ryan Kelly (Niskayuna, NY) was good on the extra point try, knotting the score at 7-7. After a Spartan punt, Castleton seemingly had forced a three-and-out series by Norwich, but a roughing the kicker penalty call breathed new life into the Cadets, and they capitalized on the extra opportunity. After the penalty put the Cadets at the Castleton 41 yard line, Norwich used seven plays, capped by another Fulford touchdown run. The extra point was missed, making it 13-7 at the end of the first quarter.

Another Castleton punt set up the Cadets at their own 21-yard line, but Preston Jones (Fryeburg, ME) was able to force a Norwich fumble, which was recovered by Castleton's Dustin Young (Dunnellon, FL) at the Norwich 37. Castleton took the ensuing drive  down to the Norwich 23, before the drive stalled out. The Spartans lined up for a 39-yard Robitaille field goal, but instead faked and attempted to pass for the first down. Norwich linebacker Mike Ohrenberger (Framingham, MA) diagnosed the play perfectly and was able to intercept the Mark Stancati (Hazlet, NJ) pass. Norwich marched 89 yards on 13 plays for another score, this time coming on a Kyle Marzeoti (Billerica, MA) one-yard plunge. The two-point conversion failed and the Cadets took the 19-7 lead into halftime.

Both teams traded scores in the third quarter, as Danny Triplett (Haverhill, MA) scored on a run from two-yards out on Norwich's first drive, and Carpenter ran it in from three-yards out on the ensuing Spartan drive. Brozowski hooked up with Evan Cassidy (South Burlington, VT) for a 23-yard reception on third-down, nine yards to go to keep the drive alive setting up the touchdown.

Norwich outscored the Spartans 22-14 in the final quarter, on touchdown runs from Fulford and Marzeoti, which sandwiched a 20-yard touchdown pass from Kris Sabourin (Georgia, VT) to Chris Denton (Plantation, FL) in the corner of the end zone.

Castleton's scores came on a Brozowski-to-Mike Jabour (South Burlington, VT) 22-yard strike, and a Brozowski-to-Randy Babineau (Milton, VT) 21-yard score.

Fulford had a big day for the Cadets, rushing for 154 yards on 14 carries and three touchdowns. Sabourin rushed for 78 yards on 15 carries, while Orwin Etkins (Miramar, FL) and Marzeoti rushed for 63 and 54 yards respectively. Sabourin was effective through the air when called upon, completing 7-of-13 passes for 72 yards and one touchdown. Ohrenberger led the Cadet defense with eight tackles and one sack to go along with his huge interception. Chris Roberto (Wakefield, MA) added three tackles, all for losses, two of which went for sacks of Brozowski. Roberto also recovered a fumble to round out his day.

Castleton struggled to get much going on the ground, with Carpenter's 27 yards and one touchdown leading the way. Brozowski had a big day, throwing for 306 yards and three touchdowns. The freshman was 23-for-32, and threw one interception on a ball that went through his receiver's hands.Cassidy led the Spartan receiving corps with 90 yards on five catches, while Adam Farmer (South Burlington, VT) added 67 yards on five catches. Carpenter also hauled in five receptions for 50 yards and a score. Young led the Spartans with 14 tackles, 10 of which were solo stops to go along with his fumble recovery. Adam Chicoine (Burlington, VT) was around the ball all day, making six tackles.