Norwich — Under normal circumstances, the bleachers would have been full, the band in full regalia and the players in full pads for the renewal of a rivalry and the regular rhythms of a fall Friday night.

Instead, the sights and sounds from the turfed lawn of Norwich Free Academy were almost surreal. Linemen racing each other down field carrying heavy bags and doing figure eights in the end zones. Seven-on-seven passing, everyone wearing masks and hauntingly empty bleachers — all signs of the new abnormal.

And yet it turned out not so bad. Fitch and NFA resumed "football activities," got to toss it around for about two hours, compete, celebrate, commiserate and make the best of football in a pandemic.

Fitch dominated both the competition among linemen and seven-on-seven passing, earning a 48-21 win over NFA, the defending Eastern Connecticut Conference Division I champ.

"I'm thankful the ECC set this up for us to do," Fitch coach Mike Ellis said. "It's given the kids a focus and a goal. It's allowed some of the things like working through adversity and working with each other. We're still getting those things taught through this. We had a good time tonight."

Points were amassed through regular touchdowns and extra points from seven-on-seven passing as well as linemen challenges. All players, coaches and officials wore masks — through perspiration and all.

"(The mask) is very challenging," said Fitch junior Thomas Williams, who spoke to his teammates and as well his NFA brethren at midfield before the game about social justice issues. "Breathing is constricted. It's not impossible. I have this cloth mask that got pretty sweaty. It was pretty gross. But you've got to make it work."

That was the theme of the night: You've got to make it work.

"It's exciting. We had fun," Williams said. "The conditioning for 11-on-11 translated into 7-on-7. For me personally, I'm super competitive. I always want to win when I go out on the field. We've been working for this since July. The goal is to win every game."

Highlights of the night included Fitch's Calvin Kilgore, who took an interception back the length of the field for a touchdown and NFA lineman Joe Klick, who helped his team win a lineman challenge with a sprint to midfield that showed wide receiver speed.

"It was a different experience, difference atmosphere," NFA lineman D.J. Jarmon said. "Stuff we're not used to. But it felt good to come out and compete."

Ellis addressed his team in the end zone, talking about practice goals for Monday and East Lyme next Friday night. Almost like the real regular season.

"We don't know what going to happen in March and April," Ellis said, alluding to the possibility of 11-on-11. "As far as I'm concerned, this is prep for March and April. The players need to perform in situations. They have to make the right choices both offensively and defensively.

"I was nervous just like I was always nervous before a Friday night game. Is it the same? No. But is it good with what's happening? Yes."

m.dimauro@theday.com