Football
Johnson City 24, Norwich 12
BINGHAMTON – Norwich’s three-game winning streak was halted Saturday afternoon at Binghamton Alumni Saturday afternoon in a battle of Section IV, Class B division leaders.
The Wildcats’ Anthony Johns scored three touchdowns, the last one a 19-yarder in the fourth quarter that put the game away to finish with 178 yards rushing. “Johns is just a tremendous back, and he does not go down at first contact,” said Norwich coach John Martinson. “He was getting three or four yards after we hit him. He has a great career ahead of him.”
Norwich (4-2) closed to within 18-12 early in the fourth quarter. Seth Thomsen hit Patrick Taylor on two long passes, and a roughing-the-passer penalty on the Wildcats wiped away a Ricky Balles interception to give Norwich possession at the JC eight. On fourth-and-goal from the one, Grant Brightman plowed in from a yard out for his second score of the game.
JC returned the ensuing kickoff near the 40, and a heavy dose of Johns, in his second varsity start, led to the decisive score.
Norwich moved for a pair of first downs on its next drive, and sustained life when a second interception by the Balles was again erased by penalty. The third time was indeed the charm for Johnson City as a deep pass by Thomsen was intercepted near the Johnson City 35.
Norwich found itself behind early on. Johnson City forced a quick three-and-out on Norwich’s opening drive, and quickly sliced through the NHS defense. Johns scored on a eight-yard run with less than four minutes expired in the contest.
The Purple Tornado were pinned at their own nine after poor kickoff return, but methodically moved down the field for the tying score. The prolific Thomsen-to-Taylor connection bailed Norwich out on two third-down situations, and Brightman burst through the line for a 45-yard tying touchdown. Norwich was driving for the tying touchdown later in the second quarter, but had the drive end at the five. Faced with a third-and-goal, Norwich’s Thomsen fumbled the center-to-quarterback exchange, and lost three yards. On fourth down, Thomsen’s pass to Taylor was just off his fingertips.
Early in the second quarter, Johnson City quarterback Nick Weathers called his own number, and after fumbling the ball initially, carried the ball over from the one to break the 6-6 tie giving his team the lead for keeps. The lead grew to 18-6 in the third when Johns completed a drive from midfield with a four-yard TD tote.
Thomsen had his best day of passing finishing with 166 yards, and Taylor caught five balls for 85 yards. “That first drive they scored, and it was like ‘uh oh,’” Martinson said. “But then we settled in, and I felt we stood toe to toe with them. I felt we gained some confidence from this game, and I hope to see them again in three weeks.”
JV notes: Norwich’s junior varsity scored 21 points in the opening quarter on its way to a 28-14 win over the Wildcats Friday night under the lights. Michael Oralls had two 20-yard TD runs, Randy Stokes hit paydirt on a 25-yard scoring jaunt, and Storm Cook hauled in a 13-yard TD pass from Tristan Rifanburg. The win moved the Norwich juniors’ record to 5-1, who play Chenango Valley Friday at home at 7 p.m. for the division championship.
Score by quarters
NHS 6 0 0 6–12
JCty 6 6 6 6–24
Scoring Summary
JC: Anthony Johns 8 run (run failed)
