NORWICH - Susquehanna Valley has been tabbed by the local experts as the next big up-and-coming program, and perhaps the heir apparent in Class B to Maine-Endwell.

Someone must have forgot to tell that to Norwich Friday night.

On an evening when 18 Purple Tornado seniors were honored before the game, NHS overcame a 17-3 halftime deficit rallying to beat the Sabers, 20-17, in overtime. Zan Stewart’s 19-yard field goal sealed the win for Norwich (4-3) as the entire roster rejoiced near the endzone.

It was the second straight year Norwich has beaten Susquehanna Valley in extra minutes, and with the victory is in position to clinch its first outright division title in five years. “I’m not going to call this a program win, but this was a step in the right direction,” said Norwich second-year coach Mike Chrystie. “We’ve won four in a row, and going into next week at Oneonta, if we take care of business, who knows? We can make a run at it (in the playoffs), and anything can happen in sectionals.”

Anything can happen on the football field, but at this point of the season, the script is usually fixed. Teams with 5-1 records that beat teams by three or more touchdowns per game usually beat .500 clubs.