Norwich’s Josey Ryan scores the game-winning touchdown in double overtime in the 35-33 win vs Waverly. (Photo by Morgan Golliver)

NORWICH – Norwich Purple Tornado girls’ flag football is back for the 2025 season. After construction at the NHS Stadium took place last year, forcing all their 2024 games on the road, Coach Jeff Parker and his team were excited to be back on their home turf.

It is the third season of girls’ flag football after NYSPHSAA launched it as a pilot program in the spring of 2022. As the pilot program was successful, there was a vote in 2023 to recognize the sport as an official NYS high school championship sport in 2024. Planview-Old Bethpage JFK (VIII) won division I and Bishop Kearney (V) won division II in the first-ever NYSPHSAA flag football championship, held last June.

Norwich was the first local Chenango County team to participate in the pilot program in 2022 with Greene adding a flag football team in 2023, and now Sherburne-Earlville is excited to welcome a team this season.

Norwich hosted Waverly to open up the 2025 season, where the game was tied at 27 at the end of the two 24 minute halves. The two teams went into overtime, unable to score on their first possession, forcing another overtime, where both teams scored but Norwich converted on the extra point to take a 35-33 victory.