NORWICH – The Norwich High School class of 1971 recently gathered to mark the 50-year reunion. In the fall of 1970, the Purple Tornado football team, which had eight 1971 graduates, put together one of the school's best seasons finishing 7-1 in the last year of the Iroquois League.

After losing 6-2 in the season-opener to Utica Free Academy - a contest where the game ended with Norwich one foot from the go-ahead touchdown - Norwich rattled off seven straight blowout wins under head coach Norm Kaufman and assistant Gary Sprout, and scored the opposition by a combined 230-51.

Pictured in this retrospective photo from the Norwich Class of '71 yearbook are Norwich seniors Dan Ryan, (offensive and defensive end),Ron Swingle (offensive and defensive back), Dave Gantt (tailback and defensive back), Doug Wilson (fullback, defensive back, kicker, and punter), Gerry Barnes (offensive and defensive tackle), Brad Ward (offensive and defensive back) and Bill Conron (offensive and defensive line). Passing away too soon was Dave Follett (offensive and defensive line).