Northfield, Vt. — Bill George, who would later call the game the biggest road win in his 19 seasons as Coast Guard Academy football coach, was careful to shake every player's hand as they left the field Saturday afternoon.

Quarterback Ethan Goldcamp, meanwhile, who was sidelined for the final 12 minutes, 23 seconds after throwing the game-winning 73-yard touchdown, was handed “The Mug” by offensive coordinator Ray LaForte, the trophy given to the winner of the longtime rivalry game between Coast Guard and Norwich University.

Goldcamp, experiencing dizziness, sat on the Bears' bench, a cold towel on his forehead, his teammates celebrating around him after Coast Guard's 13-9 come-from-behind victory over Norwich in the first New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference game in the history of both programs.

“I've never been through a game this emotional,” said George, whose team was playing Norwich for the 72nd time in series history but the first time since 2005 on what was Homecoming Weekend before a boisterous crowd of 4,369 at Sabine Field.

“When I first started here in 1999, the rivalries come at you. They come at you. I didn't want these guys to be blindsided,” George said. “I told them all week, you're going to get in this game where everybody's going to pound you.”

Perhaps the most startling turn of events came after Coast Guard was somewhat pounded in the first half.

The Bears (3-1, 1-1), nursing several injuries on both sides of the ball, were held to 52 yards offense in the first half and trailed 6-0. Goldcamp, who came into the game leading the NEWMAC with an average of 251 yards per game, couldn't seem to find a rhythm (5-for-17, 23 yards, two interceptions).

Then things played out in this order:

LaForte went into the locker room and chewed out the offense. LaForte also ditched a series of offensive personnel packages the Bears had been using to try keep the more veteran players on the field with some of freshmen who are being called on.

Coast Guard got the ball to start the third quarter, commenced using its “fastball” sequence out of a no-huddle offense, and suddenly marched down the field with metronomic precision.

The Bears scored on their first three series of the second half, with Goldcamp going 11-for-17 for 180 yards. Coast Guard got field goals of 23 and 33 yards from Cole Austin, followed by the game-winning screen pass from Goldcamp to Cam Cecchini, which Goldcamp released just ahead of an oncoming Norwich blitz on third-and-4.

“He really got into the face of the offense,” George said of LaForte, who has been with him all 19 seasons. “We tried packaging up some stuff in the first half and it didn't work. He said, 'We can't coach this way.' He said he was yelling at himself, too.”

“I feel like we had a new energy in the second half,” said Cecchini, a running back, who caught four passes for 89 yards. “We drove down the field and gave our defense a rest.”

Cecchini said that wide receiver Chip Crowley made the block to allow him to break free down the left side of the field for the 73-yarder. He also had an exchange with Rear Adm. James Rendon at halftime.

“They were definitely encouraging words from the admiral,” Cecchini said. “He said, 'It's still a 6-0 game; keep your head up.'”

Coming off a 13-0 shutout last week against Nichols with three interceptions and six sacks, Coast Guard's defense was also the glue Saturday, holding Norwich to three field goals by freshman Clyde Tamburro (45, 29 and 32 yards).

The defense, led by an interception by Matt O'Donnell and 12 tackles from Mike Goldsworthy, held especially strong over Norwich's final two series.

Trailing 13-6, Norwich got a turnover and took over at the Coast Guard 27-yard line on its second-to-last possession, getting to first-and-goal at the 7. The Coast Guard defense then came up with two straight hits for a loss, the first by the combination of Sam Lowe and Jake Behne and the second by Goldsworthy and R.J. Robiskie.

Tamburro kicked his third field goal of the game to make it 13-9 with 5:34 to play.

The Cadets had the ball for the final time with 2:59 to play and Coast Guard held them without a first down, taking over on downs.

“Our defense came up. This is a defensive victory,” George said. “The defense won the game from the first kickoff right until the end.”

v.fulkerson@theday.com