Norwich beat two Class B sectional football champions in 2008: Oneida of Section III, and Section IV’s Waverly. Yet, those marks of distinction on a solid winning season were overshadowed by a tie for last place in Section IV, Class B divisional play.

“The number one goal set by our eight seniors this year is to win the division,” said Norwich first-year head coach John Martinson, who served as an assistant football coach for 22 years. “We want to win as many games as we can, but those divisional games are really important. Yes, we won six games last year, but we were 1-3 in the division.”

Norwich’s lone divisional win came against Chenango Valley, who also finished with an overall winning record. Those two clubs, though, shared the bottom spot in Section IV’s Division three.