Norwich - Norwich Free Academy broke its postgame huddle, and Tuzar Skipper walked alongside teammate Marcus Outlow, holding his arm out as if he were holding a microphone and asked him questions like a reporter.

Outlow certainly did enough to attract a media horde. He ran for five touchdowns and had an interception as the Wildcats mashed East Lyme, 49-21, in an Eastern Connecticut Conference Large Division football game at Dick North Field on Friday night.

The Boston College-bound Outlow injured his ankle in the second game of the season and hobbled his way through NFA's next few contests.

Outlow is back to feeling like his old self. He ran 16 times for 135 yards for the Wildcats (6-1, 2-0) and also had a 34-yard catch.

"I'm finally feeling 100 percent again," Outlow said. "I know this is the player that I am, and I'm slowly getting better and better and doing some things that I'm used to doing.

"Being finally healthy, it just feels so good. I'm able to help my team."

Khaleed Exum-Strong had 10 carries for 74 yards and two touchdowns for NFA and Alex Beaudreault completed 7 of 8 passes for 120 yards. Griffin Gooden (three catches, 47 yards) was Beaudreault's top target.

"Whether it's Marcus or Khaleed running the football, we've got to be balanced because teams are going to put guys in the box," Wildcats coach Jemal Davis said. "That first (touchdown) drive, we had a (second-and-7). Alex got back, he went through his reads, and hit Griffen Gooden (for a 16-yard gain). That moves us down the field. And you need to have those things because. … (defenses) have to respect the pass because we're in spread.

"For Marcus, if we get guys out of the box, he's obviously dangerous. I think that's what you were able to see today because we were balanced; that he was able to be more effective in the running game on less carries."

Eric Stirtan ran for a 2-yard touchdown as East Lyme (4-3, 1-1) scored on the game's first drive.

It took NFA less than four minutes to score. Outlow ran for a 12-yard touchdown to tie the game at 7 with 5:49 left in the quarter.

The Wildcats' defense proceeded to drop East Lyme for a loss on three straight plays for minus-9 yards.

Airec Ricks blocked a punt, causing it to bounce backwards for 32 yards and out of the end zone for a safety.

"He does kind of inordinary things for the team," Outlow said. "Blocked punts, getting tips, forcing fumbles, stuff like that. He's just a very good teammate and he does the dirty work for us."

Charlie Jarmon returned the free kick 47 yards down to the Vikings 17. Outlow ran for a 3-yard touchdown four plays later.

NFA scored three more times before halftime to go ahead, 29-7. It pushed its lead to 42-7 after three quarters.

"That's a team that's made a commitment to the weight room and it shows," East Lyme coach Rudy Bagos said. "We had kids bouncing off their guys. They're just big and strong. It was tough for us.

"Again, it was a team that's obviously made a commitment to the weight room and we haven't. I'm hoping my younger kids learn from that."

Stirtan ran 21 times for 83 yards and two touchdowns for the Vikings. Mitchell Murphy also threw a 16-yard touchdown to Jack Livingston in the final minute.

n.griffen@theday.com