WINDSOR- With Norwich newly reassigned from Class ‘B’ school play to Section IV Class ‘C’ divisional play for this year’s football season, the Norwich Purple Tornado varsity football team wasted no time in starting their season off on the right foot as the Purple gridiron gang scored 35 straight points to lead Norwich over Windsor 42-6 in a Section IV Class C divisional matchup.
Windsor- the 2019 Section IV Class C runners up were simply outmatched by the Tornado offensive play and it was clear from the jump that the catalyst for the Norwich offense was the play of senior quarterback Griffin Mills- as he recorded three of his four rushing touchdowns on the evening in the first half.
Mills kick-started the Tornado as a pair of TD runs that came within five minutes of each other, the first one a seven yard run at 9:24 and a 31 yard TD run at 4:29 in the first period set the Purple Tornado up for a 14-0 lead over the Black Knights.
“I don’t think it’s a secret that the quarterback position in our offense is really the key focal point” said Norwich Head Coach Mike Chrystie, “He knows teams are going to be focusing on him…he’s put his work in, he’s a senior leader this year he’s a senior captain and he knows we expect big things from him this year.”
The second period proved to be just as kind to Norwich as Mills ran for a 13 yard touchdown just before throwing a 32 yard TD to senior Carson Thornton to put the Tornado up 28-0 at the break.
In the third quarter, the Tornado kept pouring it on Windsor as Mills scored a nine yard rushing touchdown. Once in the fourth quarter, Windsor scored their only points of the ballgame before Norwich’s Brady Smith reached the end zone for the Tornado with his one yard rushing TD.
“It was a good first game for sure, it takes the butterflies out when you can jump on them early” said Chrystie on the Tornado’s first half offense, “We had a great game plan going in…the kids did a great job executing it.”
Norwich had 362 yards rushing yards and established their running game early and often, Griffin Mills led NHS in rushing with 119 yards to go along with his previously mentioned four rushing TDS. Mallachi Gaters rushed for 96 yards for the Tornado in his 11 attempts and Evan Sylstra rounded out the three-headed running monster for Norwich with 66 yards on the ground. “You give our guys creases and it all starts up front” said Chrystie on his team’s dominant running game, giving credit to his team’s offensive line.
“We still have a lot to improve on…I’m sure the score stuck out to some people with the success that Windsor had last year, but for us it’s about improving each week and preparing for that week’s opponent no-matter who it is” added Chrystie.
The Purple Tornado (1-0) will now have the tough task of managing and maneuvering the Susquehanna Valley Sabres- winners of 27 straight games and back-to-back Class C New York State Championships. Norwich will host SV at Ulrich Field on Friday March 26th with kick-off scheduled for 7:00pm.

Score by quarters
Norwich 14 14 7 7 - 42
Windsor  0 0 0 6 - 6
Summary:
First downs: N 22 W 16 ;Rushes-yds:  N 45- 362; W 36 - 104 Passing;  N 4-7-0, 86yds; W 8-24-1 105 yds. Total yards:  N 448; W 249 Punts-avg: N 2- 39.5; W 4- 38.8 Penalties-yds. N 3-15; W 1-10. Fumbles-lost: N 3-2; W 2-2. Records: UV 1-0; W 0-1.
Scoring:  N, Griffin Mills runs for 7 (Carson Thornton PA success); N, Mills runs for 31 (Thornton PA success); N, Mills runs for 13 (Thornton PA success); N, Mills 32 pass to Thornton (Thornton PA Success); N, Mills runs for 9 (Thornton PA Success); W runs for 5 (Pass failed); N, Brady Smith runs for 1 (Thornton PA Success).
Individual Statistics
Rushing:  N Griffin Mills 10-119, Mallachi Gaters 11-96, Evan Sylstra 11-66, Brady Smith 4-38, Torin Lawrence 3-29, Isaiah Gonzalez 1-6, Blaine Orlando 1-5, Trent Wessels 2-3, Cameron Byrne 2-0 
Passing:  N: Mills 4-7-0 86, TD;    
Receiving:  N:  Torin Lawrence 3- 54, Carson Thornton 1-32, TD.