Congratulations to the Norwich Purple Tornado flag football team on their first sectionals win in the 55-33 victory against Johnson City. (Photo by Morgan Golliver)

NORWICH – The Norwich Purple Tornado flag football team hosted Johnson City in the first round of the Section IV, Class C tournament. Norwich finished the 2025 regular season as the second seed in the East Division. After missing the postseason last year, Norwich won its first official sectionals game with a 55-33 victory.

Both teams were tied at 20 before thunder struck, delaying the game for 30 minutes with a 1:39 left of the first half.

Both teams also went back-and-forth with turnovers before Johnson City scored first, halfway through the first half. Emma Urgo had an interception with good flag pulls from Brooklyn Burke, Josey Ryan, who batted down passes, and Arabella Dwyer.

After the Wildcats intercepted the ball following their touchdown drive, Arabella Dwyer came up with an interception on first defensive play, which set up a spin move touchdown run by Josey Ryan. Brooklyn Burke caught the conversion pass to tie the game up at seven.

McKenzie Brunick made a great catch for the second touchdown, but the conversion fell incomplete. Johnson City then tied the game at 13 with 3:35 left in the first half. Brooklyn Burke made a great catch to put Norwich in scoring position on the next offensive possession. Josey Ryan ran 30 yards for the score and the conversion was good by Burke.

Johnson City tied the game with two big runs as thunder struck, delaying the game.