VESTAL –Vestal put together two quick touchdowns in the third quarter to open a two-touchdown lead, and rode those scores out to a 20-12 win over Norwich, Thursday night at Dick Hoover Stadium in Vestal.

Thad Zaparzynski rushed for 246 yards and one TD, and would have had even more yards if his 75-yard TD run to start the second half was not wiped away due to a penalty. Although the infraction kept Norwich within 7-6, Zaparzynski eventually scored on the drive rushing the ball in from 12 yards out. John Edwards’ point-after kick put the Golden Bears in front by eight.

Norwich was unable to capitalize on a failed onside-kick by Vestal on the ensuing possession punting the ball away. Zaparzynski ripped off a big first-down run, and a face-mask penalty on the Tornado defense added 15 more yards. Quarterbck Caleb Scepaniak hit Chris Bowe on a 19-yard first-down pass deep in Norwich territory, and Scepaniak’s one-yard sneak capped the drive.

“Their offensive line was quick off the ball and they found seams in our defense,” said Norwich coach John Martinson. “(Zaparsynski) did a great job running the ball.”

Norwich failed to sustain any offense in the first half, and its lone score came after Nick McCullough snagged a Scepaniak fumble, and returned it 35 yards to the Vestal one. Seth Thomsen’s one-yard TD sneak two plays later had Norwich on the board first.