Frank Speziale Photo

NORWICH – It doesn’t matter if a team has more yards and less turnovers in the game as long as their opponent finds a way to win. And Norwich did just that as they beat Windsor for the second week in a row, with this game having more meaning than the last.

Windsor had a total of 432 yards on offense and two turnovers while Norwich had three balls taken away and 365 yards offensively.

Norwich beat the Black Knights last week on the road, winning 35-14 and securing the second seed in the Section IV Class B Football playoffs by having a 21-0 lead at the half.

This week, the Purple Tornado knew the game was going to be a little tougher. “It’s always challenging to play a team twice in one season, let alone twice in two weeks,” said Norwich head coach Mike Chrystie on Thursday, discussing his team’s keys to the game. “We had a lot of success last week so we don’t feel like we need to change a whole lot.”

However Chrystie and his assistants changed their minds quick when Windsor went up 7-0 early in the contest because of the Black Knights’ quarterback Zach Wolcott found a streaking Kieran Horton down field for a 52 yard score in the air. Horton tacked on the extra point attempt.

Horton added a field goal at the 4:07 mark, giving Windsor the 10-0 lead.

Tornado Eric Conant returned the ensuing kickoff 33 yards as Norwich used their kick-off play they have been waiting for all season. Starting with great field position, it took the Purple Tornado seven plays and 47 yards, mostly behind the yardage of running back Drew Walsh. Walsh was rewarded by getting the call for a four yard touchdown. Norwich kicker, Mike Trevisani come on to attempt the extra point. Only missing one so far this season, Trevisani putt the ball end-over-end through the uprights, cutting into the Windsor lead, 10-7.

Norwich scored on their next drive after David Berger turned on his jets and ran 59 yards from the line of scrimmage to reach the end-zone. Again, Trevisani’s kick was good, giving Norwich the lead 14-10. It was then the Purple never lost the lead again.

Norwich tacked on 10 more points before the intermission due to a Thomas Parrella pass to Conant for a 33 yard score and a 22 yard field goal attempt by Trevisani that was good with two seconds left.

The Purple started the second half with a interception by Parrella and a three-and-out. And it didn’t look good for the Tornado when Wolcott connected with Horton for 61 yards, bringing the Black Knights down to the Norwich 10. Wolcott attempted three more passing, trying to add another six point for Windsor.

But on his third attempt, he found Norwich’s Zach Mills instead of the receiver. Mills returned the pass for a pick-six at the other end, running the interception back for 98 yards at 5:33 left in the third.

With the score at 31-10, the Black Knights knew their backs were up against the wall. Until Wolcott found, yep you guessed it, Horton for an 85 yard connection, bring the score within 15 points.

“We gave up way too many big plays in the passing game, defensively,” said Chrystie.