NORWICH – Norwich’s defense played well with the exception of two instances. It’s best defense, however, proved a ball-control offense that controlled the clock more than two-thirds of the 48-minute game.
Chris Mattingly punctuated a 176-yard rushing day running 53 yards for a score in the final 1:14 of play to seal the Tornado’s 42-21 win over Johnson City at Alumni Field Saturday afternoon.
Mattingly also scored on a 14-yard run as Norwich racked up 350 yards rushing. “The line did a good job today opening up holes,” Mattingly said after the win. “I think some people may have underestimated us, but we have a lot of good players back.”
Norwich played keep-away in the first half holding the ball all but 43 seconds. After driving for its first score, Jake Fazio’s kickoff found a gap in the JC return unit, and Alex Williams pounced on the ball. Four players later, Nate Foote hit Jesse Prosser on a 24-yard, fourth-down TD pass. Norwich would score on four of its five first-half drives with its only slip-up a fumble inside the JC 10-yard line as it was poised to add more points.
The only counter for Johnson City was explosive junior back Jamal Smith, who dashed 64 yards for a score in the first quarter, then hit paydirt on a 95-yard touchdown with 40 seconds left in the second quarter. Other than those two runs and a meaningless late-minute fourth-quarter drive, the Wildcats were held at bay. “It was nice to have that early cushion, that way, when they broke a couple of those plays, it wasn’t as bad to take because we still had the lead,” said Norwich coach John Pluta.
Norwich adjusted to Smith’s big-play ability by keeping the JC running game contained on the inside. After his 95-yard TD run, Smith had just one run the rest of the way more than five yards on his way to a 198-yard performance. “Yes, (Smith) was able to get his yards, but our kids did a nice job defending their offense in the second half,” Pluta said. “They were a big, physical team. We’re pretty athletic up front, so I thought we were able to control their size.”
Norwich’s answer to Smith’s first TD run was a 10-play drive that ended in Mattingly’s first score. Smith botched a handoff on the Wildcats’ next play, and it was recovered by Christian Hotaling. Three plays later, Prosser took a end sweep around the left side and outraced the JC defense making it a 28-8 game.
Alex Williams scored early in the fourth quarter before Mattingly’s finishing touches to up the margin to 42-14. The Tornado travel to Dryden next week before opening its new field the following weekend against Greene.
Score by quarters
JCity 8 6 0 7–21
NHS 14 14 0 14–42
