By Hawk Edwards

Contributing Writer

Editor’s note: Today’s article on Barry Benjamin is the second part of a seven-part series profiling the 2012 Norwich Sports Hall of Fame induction class.

One of this year’s 2012 inductees into the Norwich High School Sports Hall of Fame is 1983 graduate, Barry Benjamin. Barry was an outstanding three-sport star in basketball, track and especially football, where he was a two-year All-County selection, and in 1982, was named The Evening Sun’s Most Valuable Player.  Benjamin was also an All-Metro selection for the Binghamton Press as a running back after the 1982 season. 

On Friday night, Oct 2, 1981, in his junior season versus Corning West, Benjamin had 34 carries for 324 yards, a STAC record at the time, while also breaking the single-game Section IV rushing record. In that game, Benjamin had six TDs (one by interception and five rushing). His first score was a 59-yard interception return, and he followed with touchdown runs of 3, 72, 3, 64 and 46 yards. Norwich won the game 41-36. 

Less than 24 hours later Dave Harby of Walton broke Benjamin’s section record with 344 yards on 42 rushes.