MARCELUS – The Cyclones’ final drive of the season reached the one-foot line as time expired in a 14-12 loss to Southwest Rochester in the Empire State Classic Pop Warner semifinals Saturday.
Norwich (10-1) drove 66 yards in the final two minutes only to fall short on the clock.
In the first half, the Cyclones mounted an 80-yard drive in the second quarter with Frank Garcia taking it in from the five-yard line. Also in the second quarter, Garcia raced 23 yards to the Colts’ 10-yard line with Michael Oralls taking the next handoff to paydirt for a 12-0 Cyclones halftime lead.
In the third, the Southwest Colts went on a nine-minute drive with Sammy Jones scoring from 10 yards out, and the Colts also kicked a two-point conversion cutting the Cyclones’ lead to 12-8. In the fourth quarter, Jones scored again to make it 14-12.