Football

Norwich 33, Sidney 6

NORWICH – Norwich coach John Martinson felt that Friday night’s home game against Sidney would put a stamp on all of the success the Tornado have achieved over the last month.

“We knew this could be a statement game,” Martinson said after his club overwhelmed the Warriors.

The victory avenges two non-league losses to the Warriors from earlier this decade, but most of all, puts Norwich over the .500 mark for the first time this season.

“Our backs and our offensive line just did a tremendous job all night long,” Martinson. “They took away our inside running and challenged us to run outside.”

That tactic did not work for Sidney at all.

On the Tornado’s opening drive of the game, sophomore Mackay Hotaling took a sweep around the outside for a 51-yard TD run. Hotaling had his second straight 100-yard rushing day finishing with 132 yards on 13 carries.

Sidney’s lone score came in response to Hotaling’s touchdown run. Anthony Masi plunged in from a yard out.

Aside from that offensive possession, the Warriors did not string together much consistency on the offensive side of the ball finishing with 210 yards of total offense, well below its season average. The Warriors were also averaging 25.7 points per game entering the contest. “Our defense bent a little bit here and there,” Martinson said. “Yes, they were missing Aaron Wood (Sidney’s leading rusher), but to hold that offense to six points is excellent.”