Norwich unable to slow Blue Devils

NORWICH – Norwich had the comeback magic and ability to overcome mistakes while compiling an unblemished record. Then again, it wasn’t playing Chenango Forks

The Blue Devils, coming off its first division loss since the 2000 season, looked every bit like a team ready to defend seven straight sectional titles beating the Tornado, 21-6 Friday night on Ulrich Field.

The outcome not only placed the first blemish a once perfect record for the Tornado, but it also put Norwich in must-win situation the rest of the way in order to make the playoffs. “The good thing is that we are still in charge of our own playoff destiny,” said Norwich coach John Pluta, noting about the only measure of solace from the Section IV, Division IV game.

Turnovers or penalties – and sometimes both – seem to have followed Norwich into the first quarter of nearly every game. It was the latter that plagued an apparent auspicious defensive stand to start the game

After holding Forks on three plays, Norwich was whistled for a running-into-the-punter five-yard infraction. That moved the chains forward five yards for a first down, and two times later in the drive, Norwich jumped offsides to advance the marker. Using up 10 minutes and 13 seconds of possession, Forks mercifully ended a time-chewing drive on Tim Zdimal’s two-yard TD run.

Norwich had trouble gathering the ensuing kickoff, and was pinned inside the 10-yard line leading to another three-and-out. The three-and-outs ensued on Norwich’s next drives – its only ones of the half.

“We played three good downs of football, then we had foolish penalty running in the punter,” Pluta said of the openign possession. “We jumped offside a couple of times. We single-handedly kept their drive alive. Once we did that, they played Chenango Forks football and got into a comfort zone.”

Chenango Forks did not attempt a pass in the game, and really, it didn’t need to. With a ground game churning out a season-high 198 yards, the defense its obstinate best, and Norwich’s execution far from sharp, the result wasn’t surprising. “We certainly liked that ball-control game, and we opened with one heck of a drive. That was great,” said Chenango Forks first-year coach, Dave Hogan. “The first half was by far the best we’ve played this year, no question about it.”

Norwich punted from deep in its end after the first of its stunted drives, and Mike Jeske found ample running room on the right side turning Tyler Slater’s kick into a 29-yard return to the Norwich 19. Unlike the first scoring drive where yards came in precious small bits, Forks whizzed through a stout Norwich defense in four plays for the second TD. Ryan Freije scored from four yards out, and the two-point conversion run by Ricky Bronson was a fine play of improvisation. Holding for an extra-point kick, a high snap forced Bronson to pull it down. He dashed for the right corner diving just inside the pylon to make it 15-0.