NORWICH - In their final game of the season the Norwich Purple Tornado hosted Ithaca on Saturday, October 31. After all was said and done Ithaca would go home as the winners, 18-15.
Scoring was started in the first quarter by Ithaca’s Turner DePalma. DePalma punched in a five yard run to cap off an Ithaca drive with just under five minutes left to go in the quarter. After the TD Ithaca attempted the two point conversion, only to be stopped by a stalwart Norwich defense.
The Purple Tornado would get the ball back and drive downfield for a score of their own just a few minutes later. With 2:56 quarterback Cole Rifanburg kept the ball on a keeper and scampered 12 yards around Ithaca defenders for the tying touchdown. A missed extra point attempt put the score at 6-6 at the end of the first.
In the second quarter Drew Walsh would give the Purple Tornado their only lead of the game after a one yard touchdown. Walsh capped off a long drive for Norwich that ended with just over six minutes left in the half. Both teams would go into the locker room at the half with the score of 13-6 in favor of Norwich.
The tandem of Walsh and Rifanburg would rack up 143 yards and two touchdowns on just 32 attempts for Norwich. The two players will have a lot to look forward to next season as leaders on the offense.
Ithaca and Norwich both held fast on defense in the third quarter and didn’t allow either team to reach the end zone. In the fourth Ithaca struck first on a 12 yard pass from Isaiah Hamilton to Nazier Landes. The ensuing two point conversion was no good and Ithaca was only down now 13-12. Just a few minutes later Ithaca would take the lead after another drive after Khiry Brown punched in a touchdown from four yards out. Ithaca was now up 18-13 on the home team and would keep their lead to the end.
With just 40 seconds remaining the Norwich defense had stopped Ithaca and forced a punt. The Purple Tornado defense would force a safety to put themselves within three points and possession. Norwich’s comeback would fall flat however as the Ithaca defense was too much for the Norwich offense and the game would end with the visitors up 18-15.
Norwich finishes the season with a record of 2-7.
Score by Quarter:
Team 1 2 3 4 Total
Ithaca 6 0 0 12 18
Norwich 6 7 0 2 15
Individual statistics: Ithaca; Rushing, Khiry Brown, 23-126, 1 TD. Turner DePalma, 10-71, 1 TD. Isaiah Hamilton, 1-1. Caleb Klausner, 1- -2. Passing, Turner DePalma, 8-17, 92 yds, 0 TDs, 2 INTs. Isaiah Hamilton, 7-10, 59, 1 TD, 1 INT. Receiving, Nazier Landes, 5-49, 1 TD. Caleb Klausner, 5-44. Isaiah Hamilton, 3-33. Jordan Ayers, 2-25. Norwich; Rushing, Cole Rifanburg, 15-83, 1 TD. Drew Walsh, 17-60, 1 TD. Zack Race, 5-56. Nick Murphy, 1-3. Passing, Cole Rifanburg, 8-15, 96 yds, 0 TDs, 2 INTs. Receiving, Jordan Vinal, 5-54. Cameron Edwards, 3-42.
Team statistics: Ithaca; Rushing, 35-196, 2 TDs. Passing, 15-27, 151 yds, 1 TD, 3 INTs. Receiving, 15-151, 1 TD. Norwich; Rushing, 38-202, 2 TDs. Passing, 8-15, 96 yds, 0 TDs, 2 INTs. Receiving, 8-96.
