Purple Tornado wide receiver JT Vinal looks to shake Owego's Jaden Ripic after coming away with a catch during Friday night's game. Norwich lost 23-13, dropping to 0-2 on the season. (Evening Sun Photo, Frank Speziale)

NORWICH – Five costly turnovers hurt Norwich Friday night against the Owego Indians as the fall in the divisional game, 23-13.

The Purple Tornado earned 312 offensive yards – 169 were from the ground game of quarterback Griffin Mills – compared to Owego’s total of 160 yards. However, it was the three lost fumbles and two interceptions by the Norwich offense that gave the visiting Indians the win.

Mills ran the ball for Norwich’s two touchdowns in the game, one was for 44 yards from the line of scrimmage. The second of the quarterback’s two rushing touchdowns gave the Purple Tornado their first lead of the game as he punched it into the end zone from five yards out with 11:10 remaining in the contest.

Owego took the lead back after a Norwich fumble deep in the Tornado’s territory led to a one yard score by the Indians’ quarterback Nick Waslyn.

Waslyn scored less than a minute later, this time from four yards out, after Carson Maynard threw an interception late in the game.

Maynard took over under center for Mills in the final minutes of the fourth quarter after the Norwich starter left the game. The Tornado senior backup quarterback went 1-for-4 with 28 yard through the air.