GREENE – In both of the clubs last time on the field for the fall of 2016, the Norwich Purple Tornado stormed the Greene Trojans for a thrilling defensive 9-7 victory.
“It was one of those nights, it was a very physical game, it was cold and wet. We knew it was going to come down to who took care of the ball and who could be most efficient tonight,” said Norwich head coach Mike Chrystie. “It ended up being a dogfight for both teams, we were pretty evenly matched, and it seems like another Norwich game where it came down right to the end.”
Norwich and Greene were afforded a chance for the matchup, after Greene was bounced from the Class D Section IV postseason when they were upset by Sidney, the sixth seed in the tournament, while Greene was the one seed.
“They’re a very good football team, they were the one-seed in the Class D playoffs, and they got upset last week. So we knew they were going to be a good team, they are very well coached,” said coach Chrystie. “We knew it was going to be a battle, and we prepared like that so we were fortunate enough to come out with a win tonight.”
The Trojans were the first to earn points on the scoreboard in the contest, when senior Zach Orzell bounded his way into the end zone, for a 47 yard strike with 6:08 left in the second quarter. This touchdown from Orzell, and extra-point from Mitchel Walters, afforded Greene the 7-0 lead over Norwich heading into the half.
However, Chrystie's Tornado proved a resilient group when they strung together a drive with 7:52 left in the third, which ended in a Cole Rifanburg to Ky'sean Veale strike from 15 yards out – Scott Manwarren extra-point successful.
With a tied game, and bragging rights on the line between the two Chenango County powerhouses, the defense kicked in. Following a failed Greene drive, Norwich strung together another long successful drive – which looked promising. However, a stout Trojan defense turned the Tornado away, as they subsequently took over deep in their own territory.
That is when the unthinkable happened for the Trojans, a bad snap for Greene led to a Norwich two-point swing as Norwich defenders stormed to the ball for the safety late in the third quarter.
Norwich took the 9-7 lead, as the games final lead change was set in stone. The Trojans – and Norwich – failed to get anything much going on the offensive side of the ball for the remainder of the game. Late in the game Norwich senior Ky'sean Veale impressed once again when he picked off a Trojan last-ditch effort pass to seal the 9-7 win for the Norwich Tornado, this past Thursday, Oct. 27.
“5-4 overall (2016 overall record), one of our goals two weeks ago was to finish the season 2-0. We wanted to send the seniors out going 2-0 and to have the underclassman coming into next year on a two game winning streak, we were able to accomplish that goal. I couldn’t be more proud of this team,” said coach Chrsytie.
Notably for Norwich they were coming off a subpar season in 2015 as they posted an underwhelming 2-7 overall record. Greene now finishes 2016 on a two game losing streak with a 6-3 overall record.
