NORWICH – Norwich’s loss to Chenango Valley Friday night might be best described as “failure to launch.”

The home faithful brought an ample supply of fireworks in anticipation of big plays on homecoming night, but the Warriors kept those pyrotechnics to a minimum in a 35-14 drubbing. At game’s end, at least five touchdowns’ worth of leftover fireworks were unceremoniously released as Chenango Valley’s players and fans celebrated a third straight Section IV Division III championship.

“We just played extremely well on both sides of the ball,” said CV coach Jay Hope, who has presided over four straight wins against NHS, three in division-championship-deciding games. “Our defense has been pretty hot, but the offense is starting to catch up to the defense, and you could see that with the way we have played the last couple of games.”

Not unlike Maine-Endwell, who blasted Norwich a week ago, CV used a mid-line option that started with the simple dive play up the middle, and was accentuated by speedy outside runs and keep-’em-honest jaunts off tackle by the quarterback The Warriors rushed for four touchdowns and 348 yards on the ground. CV quarterback Evan Trebilcock attempted just one pass, and that was intercepted by the Tornado’s Michael Oralls.