WAVERLY – Playing at one of the top Class B football teams in the state, Norwich could ill afford a slow start, and any mistakes would surely prove costly.

Unbeaten Waverly scored on its first two possessions and forced back-to-back turnovers in the second half when the Purple Tornado were rallying.

In the end, the Wolverines improved to 3-0 on the season beating Norwich (1-2), 30-18 on Friday night.

“I don’t think anything they did surprised us,” said Norwich coach Mike Chrystie. “They caught us out of position a couple times and hurt us in the first half. I think we were able to settle down. This group doesn’t get discouraged when they are down. They (don’t believe) they are out of any game, and that’s a testament to them.”

Norwich gained just one first down on its first three possessions; meanwhile, the Wolverines drove 61 yards for their first score, but the backbreaker was a long TD pass capping a four-play, 90-yard drive.

Ben Shaw hit Matthais Welles for a 69-yard score giving the Wolverines a 13-0 lead less than nine minutes into the game.

While it appeared a Wolverines route was on the board, Norwich played Wolverine to nearly a dead-even heat the rest of the way.

Norwich cut the deficit to one score early in the second quarter after a Zack Parker nine-yard TD run.

And, following a Waverly field goal, Norwich answered with a big-time catch and throw.

Freshman quarterback Cooper Chrystie hit Kasson Stubbs on a 67-yard scoring toss making it 16-12 at the half.

Waverly was able to answer with an opening score to start the second half, but the game became much more interesting.

Norwich punted after a short drive, and the pinpoint boot from Parker left Waverly inside its five-yard line. The Norwich defense held forcing a short punt that situated the Tornado at the Waverly 32.

However, three plays into the drive, Norwich tossed a critical interception. 

Norwich stopped Waverly yet again, but three plays into that drive, fumbled the ball back to the Wolverines.

Waverly took advantage of that second straight Norwich miscue moving 52 yards for the score to make it 30-12.

“We felt it should have been a one-score game either way,” Coach Chrystie said. “We can’t have turnovers. That’s a product of third-and-long. You can’t make mistakes like that against good teams.”

Norwich struck quickly for its final touchdown late in the fourth quarter.

Parker had a big first-down run, and Cooper Chrystie added a pair of long completions, the latter a 34-yard TD strike to twin brother Carter Chrystie to cap the scoring.

Cooper Chrystie completed 7 of 12 passes for a career-high 176 yards and two scores. Parker led the running game with 91 yards on 20 carries.

“I told the team after the game, if we can play with this team (Waverly), we can play with anyone on our schedule,” Coach Chrystie said.

Norwich hosts Ithaca on Friday.

Score by quarters

NHS   0  12  0  6—18

Wav.  6  10  7  7—30

Scoring Summary

W, Cooper Robinson 6 run (kick failed); W, Ben Shaw 69 pass to Matthais Welles (kick good); N, Zack Parker 9 run (kick failed); W, Hogan Shaw 23 field goal; N, Cooper Chrystie 67 pass to Kasson Stubbs (conversion failed); W, Ben Shaw 2 run (kick good); W, Robinson 2 run (kick good); Cooper Chrystie 34 pass to Carter Chrystie (run failed).

Individual Statistics

Rushing: (N) Zack Parker 20-91, Cooper Chrystie 9-30, Leland Montgomery 1 - (-2).  (W) Team:  27-129 yards.

Passing: (N) Cooper Chrystie 7-12-1, 176 yards, 2 TDs. (W) Ben Shaw 15-22-0 248 yards, TD.

Receiving: (N) Kasson Stubbs 3-87, Carter Chrystie 2-50, Montgomery 2-39. (W) 15-248 yards