NORWICH – By the time Norwich settled into its varsity football opener Friday night against Section II Guilderland, the outcome was no longer in doubt.

Coming off a three-win season a year ago, the Flying Dutchmen scored the game’s first 27 points before the Purple Tornado scored their first touchdown, while also clamping down on defense the rest of the second half.

The result was s 27-7 win for the visiting Flying Dutchmen.

The victory for Guilderland was equal parts execution, combined with taking advantage of a pair of NHS special teams miscues late in the first half.

Already leading 7-0, a bad punt snap led to a short punt by Norwich to set the visitors up at midfield.

Aided by a Norwich pass interference penalty, it took Guilderland six plays to extend its lead to two scores. Travis Berschwinger’s short swing pass to Jaden Brown led to a 13-yard score with 48 seconds left in the second quarter.

Norwich mishandled the ensuing kickoff with Guilderland recovering at the Norwich 23.

Guilderland punched in a bonus touchdown with eight seconds left in the half upping the margin to 21-0.

“(The last touchdown) was a huge momentum shifter and sucked the life out of us,” said Norwich coach Mike Chrystie. “We had costly special teams mistakes. We talk all the time that special teams can make or break a game. …I pride myself on special teams, and we’ll clean that up.”