NORWICH – A sloppy drudged out game was turned on its head after a Tornado safety in the third quarter sparked a late Norwich win.

Opening day for the Norwich varsity football team, on Friday, Sept. 2, saw a Norwich squad head into the halftime break only up one point to the visiting Sidney Warriors, at 7-6.

What was said during halftime would inspire an epic win in Tornado fashion giving Norwich a 1-0 start to their 2016 season, following an attempted punt out of the end zone by the Warriors, Norwich would claim the lead when a safety was recovered with 5:20 left in the third.

Fourth quarter is where both teams erupted on the scoreboard, however, with just 2:09 left in the third quarter, Norwich's quarterback Cole Rifanburg completed a 12 yard pass to junior running back Zack Race. Following a extra point kicked by Scott Manwarren Norwich would take the 16-6 lead, which they held heading into the fourth.

Norwich would look dominate early in the fourth, with a Ky'Sean Veale 78 yard receiving touchdown from Rifanburg to start the fourth quarter.

However, the Warriors would not go down easily, down 23-6, Sidney would see two consecutive touchdowns go in their favor within a two minute span, partially due to an onside kick recovered.

With everything on the line, winning the game 23-20 with just 3:30 left in the game, it was again Rifanburg who helped propel his team to victory. This time using his leg power as he took the ball in himself from five yards out for a 29-20 lead, as the extra point kick attempt failed for the purple.