Norwich’s Bryce Wellington (#7) scores twice in the 2026 season opener against Cazenovia. (Photo by Morgan Golliver)

NORWICH— The Norwich Purple Tornado football team welcomed the Cazenovia Lakers on Friday night, where the Purple Tornado fell 34-20. The Purple Tornado have a new look this season with new head coach Evan Sylstra taking over the reigns and switching things up with Bo Brown at Quarterback this season with a lot of guys competing for spots every day and week.

Norwich had a jittery start against a team that did go all the way to the Dome last year, including penalties that went against them. The defense let up 21 points in the first quarter, but Sylstra complimented his team on their resilience.

“They just kept going,” he said. “21 points were put on in the first quarter and our team didn’t bat an eye. They kept going. After the second touchdown, they just kept moving and moving. You know, we take those 21 points away and it’s a different ballgame at the end of the game. It was really just first quarter mess-ups and first quarter jitters.”

Norwich got on the board to start the second quarter as Nick Sylstra ran the ball in for the rush, but the extra point was missed. Norwich got stronger defensively in the second quarter as well as Baylen Miller recovered a fumble and he did it again in the third quarter.

After Cazenovia scored in the third quarter, Norwich had a good kick off return by Cameron Carnachan on special teams, putting the ball on the Lakers’ 36-yard line, giving the Purple Tornado good field possession.

The good field possession and a deep pass from Brown to Carmine Pastore helped Norwich score on a rushing touchdown by Bryce Wellington with a good two-point conversion rush by Bo Brown.

Following the scoring drive, Norwich again stepped it up on defense with Miller recovering another fumble, which set the offense up on the Lakers 28 yard line. On the drive, Brown threw an interception and on the next, a turnover on downs, which Cazenovia converted on.

Nearing the end of the game, Norwich drove the ball deep in Cazenovia’s red zone again, which led to another rushing touchdown by Bryce Wellington, but the two-point conversion failed.

An onside kick recovered by Cazenovia ended the game with a minute remaining.

Norwich (0-1) faces Sidney on the road on Friday, where Sylstra looks for his team to tighten some things up.

“We’re looking to sharpen everything,” he said. “We’re getting back and just training, studying, and working.”

Other local football scores:

BGAH 14-Newark Valley 13

Oneonta 44- Oxford/Greene 6