Storm’s power too much for Oxford
JOHNSON CITY – Norwich came away with the first win of the season as they topped the Johnson City Wildcats on the road, 49-21. Quarterback Griffin Mills threw for 94 yards and rushed for 198 – including a 87 yard touchdown run 20 seconds before the end of the first half to give Norwich a 28-14 lead at the break.
The Tornado’s Cameron Byrne and David Berger came alive in the second half as each score at least one touchdown. Byrne had two in the half and rushed for 80 yards four times throughout the game while Berger massed 135 on 11 touches and a 56 yard run into the end zone in the third quarter.
In total, Norwich gained 592 yards on offense and scored 14 points in each of the first three quarters on their way to the divisional win.
Mills completed 60-percent of his passing attempts and found Carson Maynard, JT Vinal and Carson Thornton throughout the night. Maynard had six of his quarterback’s completions for 47 yards and Vinal caught two passes for 41 yards and a touchdown. Thornton, playing in place of an injured Eli Rodriguez, came away with one catch for six yards.
Leading Norwich’s defense in the win was Berger, wrapping up the Wildcats 6.5 times Vinal totaled 3.5 while Brayden Supensky and Shane Lawrence had three apiece. Lawrence found himself in Johnson City’s backfield, coming away with 2.5 for a loss.
Matt Giglio, the Tornado’s kicker, kicked all extra point attempts through the uprights to go a perfect 7-for-7.
“It was a much needed win for us,” said Norwich head coach Mike Chrystie. “We all played well and will use this win going forward.”
The Tornado (1-3) trailed to Johnson City early in the first quarter but tied it up at Mills punched in a 1-yard touchdown run. Mills then completed an air strike to Vinal for a 26 yard score to put Norwich ahead 14-7.
The Wildcats tied the game late in the second quarter but back-to-back touchdown runs for the Tornado quarterback – one for 87 yards from the line of scrimmage – put the visiting team up 28-14 at the break and to put the game out of reach early.
Norwich heads to Oneonta on Saturday at 3 p.m.
Unadilla Valley 48, Oxford 26
NEW BERLIN – With little action for 11 minutes of the first quarter, both Oxford and Unadilla Valley battled at the line of scrimmage and either team came away with very little. However, with a minute left in the first, the Storm struck first as Blaine Rifanburg ran for 14 yards and into the end zone.
