Husson University enjoyed some payback against a gutsy team from Norwich University of Vermont on Saturday afternoon.
Coach Gabby Price’s Eagles scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns, with the winner coming from tailback Josh Smith, en route to a 27-13 Eastern Collegiate Football Conference victory over the Cadets at the Winkin Complex.
The Eagles (8-1) captured the conference title while Norwich falls to 4-5.
Husson needed a win and a Mount Ida loss to win the conference title and Mount Ida fell to SUNY Maritime 17-14.
Smith got the Eagles on the board on a 2-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, and he scored his second touchdown of the afternoon from 3 yards out early in the second half.
Norwich responded in the third quarter with 13 unanswered points to tie the game.
Tyreque Estrada-Crapps and Pierre Noel hooked up on a 44-yard pass, while Patrick Brown broke off a 64-yard touchdown run on the Cadets’ following possession.
But Smith and the Eagles bounced back midway through the fourth, as Smith scored on an option pitch from 3rd-and-goal at the 2-yard line as Husson regained the lead at 20-13 with 6:42 to play.
After a Norwich three-and-out, the Eagles were forced to punt but caught a huge break.
The snap was muffed by Tyler Bassett but he managed to get off a low, short kick that was touched by a Cadets’ player, and the Eagles recovered near midfield.
Husson took advantage, and would put the game out of reach on a 56-yard touchdown pass from Cory Brandon to Kadeem Edge.
Smith finished with 211 yards on 44 carries and three touchdowns while Brandon compiled 219 yards passing. Kyle Gaudet had four catches for 75 yards.
Ellis Throckmorton led the defense with seven tackles while Luke Washburn and Evan Suazo, Jr., had seven apiece.
Norwich was held to 199 total yards.
Nichols 54, MMA 28
CASTINE, Maine — Maine Maritime Academy lost its sixth consecutive game on Saturday, as Nichols College rolled to victory at Ritchie Field.
The Mariners fall to 1-7 with next weekend’s regular-season finale against Salve Regina remaining on the slate while Nichols improved to 4-4.
Maine Maritime led 22-14 at halftime but Nichols outscored the Mariners 40-6 in the second half to run away with the game.
Chris Mullins’ 11-yard touchdown pass to Grant Klimek put Nichols ahead to stay.
Mullins finished the afternoon with 400 yards passing with four scores. Josh Pierre-Charles compiled 102 yards receiving on six catches with one touchdown.
Corey Creeger led the Mariners with 173 rushing yards on 36 carries and two touchdowns.
Josh Doolan ran for 75 yards and a touchdown while James Ferrar, who had MMA’s other touchdown, ran for 49 yards.
Jacob Doolan added 70 rushing yards for the Mariners.