Frank Speziale Photo
NORWICH – Fireworks cracked and popped several times through the Friday night sky as Norwich once again blew through an opponent, defeating the Johnson City Wildcats 40-6 for their third divisional win of the season on Homecoming and Pink Night.
The Purple Tornado back field once again had themselves a night as seniors Drew Walsh and Eric Conant combined for the six Norwich touchdowns scored. The duo rushed for 341 yards on 19 carries.
The first drive of the game resulted in a 15 yard run by Walsh to put Norwich on top 7-0 early.
Johnson City took their first drive down the field into the Purple Tornado territory but an interception by the Norwich defense halted the Wildcats.
Turning the JC miscue into points, Conant raced down the sideline for 64 yards for the second touchdown by the Norwich backfield.
Then it was Walsh’s turn, punching it in from 17 yards away as his offensive line once again opened a big hole on his way to the Purple Tornado’s first score of the second quarter.
Later in the second, Conant bounced to the outside for four yards and the touchdown. Six minutes later Walsh recorded a 65 yard run as he raced into the endzone with the Wildcats chasing behind.
Norwich took a 33-0 lead into the locker room at half time.
Out of the break, the Tornado defense held Johnson City on their opening drive. Eating away at the clock, Norwich handed the ball off several times before Conant took his and the Tornado final touchdown in from 20 yards out.
The Purple Tornado finished the game with 484 yards total offense. Norwich’s quarterback Thomas Parrella went 1-for-2 passing. His one completion was for 17 yards to Eli Rodriguez.
Rodriguez caught a Wildcats’ punt and returned it to the endzone but it was called back to due a penalty called against the Tornado return team, taking his touchdown away.
Johnson City’s lone touchdown came with 2:12 left in the contest as quarterback Jake Harding connected with wide receiver Keith Harris for a 15 yard score.
Harding completed three of his nine attempts to Harris for a total of 40 yards. Their teammate Quinton Robinson ran for 113 yards on 20 carries.
The Norwich defense recorded four sacks, dropping Harding behind the line of scrimmage for a total of 13 yards. Keegan Wright led in the sacks column for the Tornado with 1.5 sacks. Walsh assisted on one of the sacks with Wright while David Berger and Shane Lawrence tallied one each.
Walsh led the defense with 8.5 tackles, seven of them solo. Conant finished with 5.5, Wright ended the night with 4.5 and Zach Mills wrapped up four tackles, all solo.
