NORWICH – Five costly turnovers hurt Norwich Friday night against the Owego Indians as the fall in the divisional game, 23-13.
The Purple Tornado earned 312 offensive yards – 169 were from the ground game of quarterback Griffin Mills – compared to Owego’s total of 160 yards. However, it was the three lost fumbles and two interceptions by the Norwich offense that gave the visiting Indians the win.
Mills ran the ball for Norwich’s two touchdowns in the game, one was for 44 yards from the line of scrimmage. The second of the quarterback’s two rushing touchdowns gave the Purple Tornado their first lead of the game as he punched it into the end zone from five yards out with 11:10 remaining in the contest.
Owego took the lead back after a Norwich fumble deep in the Tornado’s territory led to a one yard score by the Indians’ quarterback Nick Waslyn.
Waslyn scored less than a minute later, this time from four yards out, after Carson Maynard threw an interception late in the game.
Maynard took over under center for Mills in the final minutes of the fourth quarter after the Norwich starter left the game. The Tornado senior backup quarterback went 1-for-4 with 28 yard through the air.
As a member of the wide receiver core for Norwich’s offensive starter, Maynard caught one catch for six yards.
Leading the team in receiving yards was Eli Rodriguez with two receptions for 28 yards. Teammate JT Vinal also had two catches in the loss, totalling 14 yards for the night.
Rodriguez, who is also Norwich’s special teams returner, has 70 yards on returns – one run that would have brought Norwich points but a penalty on the return brought the ball back into Purple Tornado territory.
Norwich only had three penalties for the game, adding up to 35 yards but each of those calls were untimely as one brought back the punt return 15 yards from the spot and another one brought Owego closer, resulting in the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter.
The Indians took the lead half way through the first quarter as Waslyn took the snap and handed it to the running back, Gio Fabi, for the six points. Fabi took the handoffs for most of the first drive and was rewarded with his lone touchdown of the game. He ended the game with 15 carries for 40 yards.
Waslyn finished with his two scores and 61 yards on 16 rushes. He also completed 4 passes in 16 tries, recording 38 yards.
Defensively, Norwich was led by Cameron Bryne’s 5.5 tackles – three of were on his own. Also coming away with 5.5 tackles were Vinal and defensive lineman Shane Lawrence. Both Vinal and Lawrence recorded four of their tackles as solo wrap ups.
Noah Buffalini finished the game with four tackles.
Offensively, Norwich’s David Berger rushed for 82 yards on 14 carries.
The Tornado, now 0-2 overall, host Section IV powerhouse Chenango Forks on Friday at 7 p.m. The Norwich booster club and head coach Mike Chrystie will honor the Section IV and New York State quarterfinalist 1999 team as it is the 20th anniversary of the championship – the last for the Purple Tornado program.