Norwich — Here's something you don't see all that often in Connecticut high school football — a team with both a 200-yard rusher and passer in the same game.

Norwich Free Academy pulled that statistical stunt off Friday night as it wore down and ground down East Lyme for a 41-26 win in the Eastern Connecticut Conference Division I opener for both teams.

"Really?," East Lyme coach Rudy Bagos said when told of NFA's accomplishment.

"Yeah. They had everything going."

First-year starting quarterback Elijah Parker completed 14 of 23 passes for 228 yards and three touchdowns (with one interception) for the Wildcats (3-1, 1-0).

Sean Preston, a sophomore, ran 23 times for 222 yards and three touchdowns.

That's some mighty nice offensive balance.

"That's big," Parker said. "The (offensive) line did well today. That's what that means there."

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The Wildcats had a lot of first-half yardage but just a 14-7 lead to show for it.

Kevin Pomroy helped NFA get a little distance on the second play of the second half with a highlight reel play.

Parker threw a deep pass that sure looked like it would be picked off by a Vikings' defender.

Instead, the ball bounced off his hands and into Pomroy's for a 34-yard completion to the East Lyme 25.

Pomroy caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from Parker on fourth-and-6 as the Wildcats went ahead, 21-7, with 9 minutes, 35 seconds left in the third quarter.

NFA never let East Lyme get closer than 14 points the rest of the way.

The Wildcats finished with 537 total yards.

"I'll tell you what, give a lot of credit to their defensive line and their offensive line," Bagos said. "They won that battle. ... They're big and strong and physical. They outworked our guys."

Parker has an embarrassment of riches to choose from at receiver. Pomeroy caught five passes for 79 yards and a touchdown.

Nolan Molkenthin had five catches for 43 yards and a touchdown.

Andrew Cote caught a 51-yard touchdown pass.

Jahiem Spruill added three catches for 45 yards. That included a ridiculous leaping grab late in the first half in which he snared the ball with his fingertips for a 39-yard gain with a defender guarding him.

"I love it," Parker said about all the weapons at his disposal. "They (the receivers) know how to make plays. They're fast. They know how to get into open space, so that's better for me."

The Wildcats used Preston to batter East Lyme in the second half. He had 17 of his carries that half and bullied his way for 168 yards and three scores.

Remember — he's just a sophomore.

"He's just a tough kid," NFA head coach Jason Bakoulis smiled. "He doesn't stop and keeps moving his feet. He runs low and protects the ball. That's all we can ask."

East Lyme collected the bulk of its touchdowns during a madcap fourth quarter. Each team scored three touchdowns in the final 10:47.

Chris Salemme completed 21 of 31 passes for 245 yards with a touchdown and interception for the Vikings (1-3, 0-1). He also scored on a 5-yard run in the first quarter.

Spencer Duthrie added eight catches for 70 yards and a touchdown and Blane Hart had 19 carries for 65 yards and two touchdowns.

Hart also had a sensational diving catch for an interception in the first quarter at the East Lyme 42-yard line to set up its first touchdown.

"We started to get something going, but it was a little late," Bagos said. "We just weren't consistent in the game doing it."

n.griffen@theday.com