NORWICH – A sloppy drudged out game was turned on its head after a Tornado safety in the third quarter sparked a late Norwich win.

Opening day for the Norwich varsity football team, on Friday, Sept. 2, saw a Norwich squad head into the halftime break only up one point to the visiting Sidney Warriors, at 7-6.

What was said during halftime would inspire an epic win in Tornado fashion giving Norwich a 1-0 start to their 2016 season, following an attempted punt out of the end zone by the Warriors, Norwich would claim the lead when a safety was recovered with 5:20 left in the third.

Fourth quarter is where both teams erupted on the scoreboard, however, with just 2:09 left in the third quarter, Norwich's quarterback Cole Rifanburg completed a 12 yard pass to junior running back Zack Race. Following a extra point kicked by Scott Manwarren Norwich would take the 16-6 lead, which they held heading into the fourth.

Norwich would look dominate early in the fourth, with a Ky'Sean Veale 78 yard receiving touchdown from Rifanburg to start the fourth quarter.

However, the Warriors would not go down easily, down 23-6, Sidney would see two consecutive touchdowns go in their favor within a two minute span, partially due to an onside kick recovered.