Norwich head coach, Mike Chrystie, wasn't sure of the last time Norwich beat Chenango Valley. We checked, in 2009 Norwich beat CV at Greene High School to capture a division title. "The last time we beat them was before I was coaching here, and I do know we want to put in a good showing," the NHS coach said.
The Warriors (2-3) have won the last four meetings with the Purple Tornado, one of those was for the 2011 Section IV championship. The Warriors have suffered a pair of lopsided losses to Maine-Endwell and Sus Valley this season, and another division loss to Johnson City, but played extremely well two weeks ago in a blowout victory over Oneonta.
"The one thing about Chenango Valley is that they are always well coached," Chrystie said. "Maybe more than any team we play, their coaching staff has been able to make adjustments on the fly. Coach Hope (of CV) does a great job implementing his system, and it allows them to hit any spot on the field running or passing."
Norwich struggled with consistent offense its first three weeks, but seems to have solved that issue putting 82 combined points on the board in victories over Windsor and Chittenango.
Mike Oralls has rushed for over 300 yards the past two weeks, and with 623 yards rushing in five games, is on pace for a second straight 1,000-yard season. Oralls' success is due in large part to improved line play along with his own hard-nosed running style. "Our offensive line has taken a lot of pride in the rushing numbers we've put up the last two weeks," Chrystie said.
That said, it helps that Oralls is the type of ballcarrier who refuses to go down on first contact. "He treats every run like it's his last carry," Chrystie said.
Prediction: Norwich
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Below is a look at the rest of the weekend's football schedule:
Seton Catholic Central (2-3) at Oxford (3-2), Friday, 7 p.m.
Coming off a one-win season a year ago, Oxford's reclamation as a factor in the Class D playoff team is now just two wins away. A victory this week over the Saints this week along with a win next week at Harpursville/Afton would put Oxford back in the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade.
The Saints are coming off a 60-point performance a week ago with an offense that is decidedly pass-heavy. "They'll come out and try to spread us out," said Oxford coach Jeff Newton. "I would say they probably pass 70 percent of the time, and they do have some quick skill kids. It should be another dog fight, but it is our homecoming, and I expect our kids to be amped up."
Prediction: Oxford
Sherburne-Earlville (4-1) at Frankfort-Schuyler (3-2), Friday, 7 p.m.
Sherburne-Earlville defeated Frankfort-Schuyler for the first time last year, and it will need to make it two in a row if it intends on returning to the Section III playoffs. "It's pretty much a must-win for both of us as far as playoff aspirations go," said S-E coach Mike Jasper. "Frankfort-Schuyler has a well-coached team with good depth."
The Marauders are coming off a 400-yard plus rushing performance a week ago, and aside from its lone setback - to Utica Notre Dame - has moved the ball almost at will. Still, S-E made a few mistakes last week against Mount Markham that allowed the Mustangs to stay in the game until the fourth quarter. "We just need to maintain our focus and pay attention to the little things," Jasper said.
Both clubs favor a run-heavy attack, while mixing in the passing game. We think S-E is just a little better at those two things.