Saints Keep Hoffman Cup After Norwich Win
The Cup Stays Cozy in Canton as Football Dominates on Friday Night
A roar from Leckonby Stadium was heard across campus last Friday night as the Saint Lawrence football team hoisted the Hoffman Cup in front of almost 1300 fans for the fifth-straight year. The team kicked off their 2025 campaign in victorious fashion against Norwich University, defeating the Cadets 19-3.
The St. Lawrence-Norwich game is one of the longest-standing non-conference rivalries in NCAA Division III. The two teams faced other for the 47th consecutive season and the eighth battle for the Hoffman Cup. The Hoffman Cup Game has been a valued tradition of SLU football since 2003, originally awarded to the winner of the matchup between SLU and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. In 2017, the tradition was passed onto the Saints-Cadets rivalry, and going into Friday’s matchup, the Saints held a 6-1 record over Norwich in Hoffman Cup games. Captain Sam Morelli ’27 noted that the Hoffman Cup Game is a special matchup for the Saints and spoke on the atmosphere in the locker room going into the game, stating that the boys were “fired up” for the season opener under the lights.
Led by quarterback Will Lederman ’26, the Saints offense scored 19 unanswered points through three quarters after giving up an early field goal in the first quarter. Lederman passed for 144 yards on nine completions, including one touchdown to wide receiver Nicholas Huhtala ’26, who finished with five receptions for 51 yards. Lederman also found the endzone for himself in the second quarter to get the Saints on the board. The Saints proved to be a problem in the backfield with James Gescheidle ’28 and Jackson Tewksbury ’27 posting a combined 100 rushing yards in the win. Cadet offensive efforts were stifled by the dominant Saints’ defense, holding the Cadets to 173 yards and one red zone opportunity. Shemmy Bridges ’28 and Sam Morelli ’28 each recorded nine tackles. At the same time, Ethan Metro ’28 picked up seven on the day. Morelli also logged a safety midway through the third quarter, propelling the Saints’ momentum in the second half. Kicker Clayton Folger ’26 closed the game 2-2 on PATs and notched a 39-yard field goal to seal the deal for the Saints. With the statement win, the Saints keep the Hoffman Cup cozy in Canton and add an early tally to their win column.
After the victory, the Saints look to continue the momentum as they hit the road against St. John Fisher this Saturday. In his post-game interview, Morelli reflected on the strong tone the Saints set for the remainder of the season after securing the opening-day win. When asked about what fans should expect to see from Saints Football this year, Morelli responded, “Fans should expect a group of guys who will battle till the last whistle.” With conference play still ahead, the team feels they are in a great spot to build on the energy of hoisting the Hoffman Cup on Friday night and are ready to shake things up in the Liberty League.
The Saints return to Leckonby Stadium over Laurentian Weekend when they host Alfred University on Saturday afternoon!