Greene raises perfect mark to 3-0

Greene 40, Unatego 7

OTEGO – After a thoroughly impressive first half in which it built a three-touchdown lead, about the only suspense left in Friday’s game at Unatego was if the Greene defense would finally give up its first points of the season.

The host Spartans did eventually find the endzone, but it came when the game’s outcome was well in hand. “They have a complete team and a great group of players,” said Unatego head coach Art Rigas. “Their defensive line impressed us the most. They have some kids that can really get after it. We had a difficult time blocking them.”

The Trojans marched 80 yards on 10 plays scoring on Dan Jenks’ three-yard run to start the game. Scott Gorton added a 15-yard TD scamper in the second quarter, and Greene built its lead to three touchdowns by halftime.

The Spartans managed just 21 yards of total offense and did not complete a pass. Quarterback Cody Komenda broke up the Trojans’ quest for a third straight shutout taking the ball in on an option keeper four yards out in the fourth quarter.

“I’ve watched this group (of Greene players) come up through the ranks,” Rigas said. “They all play well together and feed off of each other.”

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Kurt Shear had two TD runs for Greene and led a balanced rushing attack with 56 yards. Nick Wilcox also scored on a pair of short runs for the Trojans (2-0, 3-0), who finished with a season-high 198 yards rushing.

Score by quarters

Unat. 0 0 0 7–7

Gre. 7 14 12 7–40

Scoring Summary

G: Nick Wilcox 5 run (Nic Puglisi kick)

G: Scott Gorton 15 run (kick failed)

G: Kurt Shear 2 run (Shear run)

G: Tyler Beckwith 1 run (kick failed)

G: Wilcox 8 run (kick failed)

G: Shear 3 run (Dan Jenks kick)

U: Cody Komenda 4 run (Will May kick)

Football Summary

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G U

First downs 14 3

Rushes-yds 40-198 30-21

Passing yds 134 0

Comp-att-int 8-18-2 0-7-2

Fumbles-lost 0-0 2-1

Penalties-yds 3-15 6-45

Individual Statistics

Rushing: (G) K. Shear, 10-56; T. Beckwith, 9-44; Jenks, 8-22; Wilcox, 7-46; Gorton, 1-15; Beers, 1-8; B Thibodeau, 2-4; Gascon, 2-3. (U) Evan Kiss, 13-31; Lambrech, 4-2; Jones, 2-1; Komenda, 11- (-13).

Passing: (U) Komenda, 0-7-2, 0 yds; (G) Gorton, 8-18-2, 134 yards.

Receiving: (G) Brendan Kinne, 3-69; Jenks, 2-33; Beers, 1-20; Gilroy, 1-7; Wilcox, 1-5.

Johnson City 23, Norwich 7

JOHNSON CITY – Even a great start and forcing four turnovers were not enough for Norwich to find the victory column.

Johnson City improved to 3-0 on the season punching in two TDs in the second half – both on short drives – to pull away from the Tornado Saturday afternoon.

The Wildcats set up shop at the Norwich 10 after a bad punt snap late in the third quarter. Bryon Palmer scored from seven yards out to give JC a one-touchdown lead, 15-7. In the latter stages of the fourth, Norwich, needed a touchdown to tie the game, and went for a first down from its own eight. A sack at the three-yard line turned the ball over on downs. The Wildcats capitalized on the next play when quarterback Jake Spalik called his own number hitting paydirt.

Norwich matched its all-game point total from the previous two weeks on the opening drive of the game. Quarterback Casey Edwards completed the scoring drive hitting leading receiver Andrew Austin on a 26-yard scoring strike. Along the way, Norwich converted a first down near midfield on a fake punt.

Johnson City’s high-scoring offense was held in check in the first half by an inspired Tornado defense limiting leading rusher, Palmer to less than 10 yards in the first half. The Wildcats threatened late in the first half getting an assist from the Purple Tornado after a pass interference penalty. JC reached the Norwich six and had a first-and-goal. Three plays later, JC’s quarterback Jake Spalik’s pass from the three fell incomplete on fourth down.

The Wildcats’ defense held Norwich without a yard for two plays after the near-miss at the NHS three. On third down, a Purple Tornado fumble was recovered by JC’s Patrick Reno for a touchdown; however, a missed extra-point was the difference in a 7-6 NHS halftime lead.

Norwich’s best sustained drive after its opening score came in the third quarter. The Tornado converted a fourth-down play along the way, but had a second fourth-down effort – a reverse to Paddy Law – stopped a yard short of the first-down stakes at the JC 16. On the next play, though, Norwich recovered a JC fumble at the 21-yard line.

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A sack of Edwards lost nine yards right off the bat, and NHS’s opportunity at capitalizing on a turnover effectively ended. “Our defense put us in position to score throughout the game, but we were not able to capitalize,” said Norwich coach John Martinson. “I felt we did a tremendous job defensively, especially in the first half. I know it doesn’t look like it, but after these three games, we feel we’re a good 0-3 team, and we’re ready to make a run at the division.”

The collective record of Norwich’s three opponents this year is 8-1. Johnson City was averaging over 400 yards of offense through two games, but was held to just 201 yards by Norwich.

Norwich returns home on Friday for a division matchup against Windsor.

Score by quarters

NHS 7 0 0 0—7

JCity 0 6 9 8—23

Scoring Summary

N: Andrew Austin 26 pass from Casey Edwards (Josh Favaloro kick)

JC: Reno recovers fumble in endzone (kick failed)

JC: Palmer 22 field goal

JC: Bryon Palmer 7 run (kick failed)

JC: Jake Spalik 3 run (Halladay pass from Spalik)

Football Summary

N JC