Frank Speziale Photo
NORWICH – Homecoming 2016 for the Norwich Purple Tornado, down 16-0 at the half, a 23-point comeback in the third quarter, and a missed two-point conversion for the possible win – that is the roller coaster ride that the the Tornado fans endured on Friday night, when the Sabers came to town.
“It's one of those games where whoever loses is going to be extremely disappointed,” said Norwich head coach Mike Chrystie.
The Susquehanna Valley Sabers, a class B division rival for Norwich and in a must win game on Homecoming, the Sabers proceeded to slice their way through the struggling Tornado team in the first half, eventually earning the 30-29 win over Norwich on Oct. 7.
SV would lead 16-0 at the half following a pair of one yard touchdown runs from Jarred Freije and Brandon Vosbury, and a 23 yard field goal kick from Timothy Hawley as time expired in the half.
“It really was was a tale of two halves. The first half we just didn’t come out and execute, we couldn’t get anything started on offense. We couldn’t really establish the run like we'd hoped to,” said Norwich head coach Mike Chrystie.
Facing a massive deficit, Norwich emerged from the halftime break with a newfound vigor. Norwich's quarterback Cole Rifanburg connected with receiver Ky'sawn (Pop) Veale for the first of three strikes in the game, between the duo. Rifanburg launched the pass, ball deflected off a Sabers defensive backs hands, Veale turned just in time for the ball to land in his arms, and for him to turn on the jets as he raced to the end-zone for a 79 yard touchdown just a few minutes into the second half, with 10:31 still left in the third quarter.
“Halftime I think something went off, we made some adjustments offensively and defensively. The kids did a great job picking up the adjustments, we had a lot of success throwing the ball,” said coach Chrystie. “We put up 23-points in the third quarter, but I think that first one to 'Pop' (Ky'sawn Veale) where the corner tipped it and it landed in 'Pop's' arms. He took it all the way for the touchdown and I think that is what ignited us for the whole quarter. It got everyone going; it got us going, it got the sideline going, it got the crowd going. Then we just ran with it, we had 23-unanswered points, it was great for our kids.”
Following a slow running game in the first half, and an ignited passing attack following the 79 yard strike, Norwich seized their opportunity. Only down 16-8, and following a Norwich defensive stop, Rifanburg connected again with Veale, this time from 15 yards out. Speedster Zack Race found the end-zone next for the red hot Tornado, when he snagged a pass from Rifanburg before zipping to the end-zone for a 32 yard strike. Race's touchdown, followed by a point after kick from Scott Manwarren gave the Tornado their first, and only, lead of the night.
The team was riding high, but simply would run out of steam as the quarter expired. Norwich defender Austin McCloskey came up late in the third quarter with a fumble recovery, an opportunity the Tornado as the offense failed to take advantage of the gift, as the drive off the turnover amounted to nothing late in the third, as the ball was punted to SV.
With the third quarter winding down, so passed the adrenaline and pure electrifying feel to the Tornado team. With 9 minutes left, a tied ballgame is what the fans had on Homecoming, when the fourth quarter began as Jarred Freije of Sus. Valley, found receiver Jason Moelder for a 49 yard touchdown.
23-23 with 5:52 left in the game, Norwich coughed up the ball, as the Sabers pounced on the opportunity – Shawn Tarbox scooped and scored for the fumble return touchdown, completely deflating the once mighty Norwich Tornado.
“Then they scored. tThe way they scored, it was not the way we wanted them to score and take the lead. We just never recovered after that,” said coach Chrystie.
As the Norwich offense took over once again following the devastating turnover score, surrendering the 30-23 lead to Sus. Valley, it would take a grueling 2:52 for them to march down the field, one last time. Rifanburg found his favorite target in the game, 'Pop' Veale, for the potential game tying 23 yard touchdown strike.
With the game on the line, and with Norwich down 30-29, the option of the extra point kick or the ability to go for the win with a two-point conversion was on the table.
Norwich elected to go with the fake PAT, as Rifanburg ran to the right side. Rifanburg, chugged and grinded his way closer to the end-zone, however was pulled down by a pack of Sabers, a half yard short of the end-zone as Norwich's big gamble failed to pay off.
“To our kid's credit we came back, marched down the field, and scored. I thought we were in a position to go for the win, the kids I talked to were all for it, it was just a matter of how we were going to do. We tried to do it by faking a PAT and we just came up a half a yard short,” said coach Chrystie. “It probably was a great game to watch and I am proud our kids for fighting back. I think they showed a lot of guts, a lot of determination, and a lot of belief in the coaches. We just came up a half a yard short.”
With the heartbreaking loss at home, Norwich will need to act fast on their mistakes as they take this week to prepare for the upcoming monster of a game this coming Saturday, Oct. 22.
