East Lyme — Norwich Free Academy put forth a spirited effort and took advantage of a mistake-prone opponent to earn a much-needed victory Friday night.

Quarterback Colby Ayoyo threw two first-half touchdown passes to junior Conor Gaughan and also ran for a score, and an aggressive Wildcat defense shut down East Lyme in Eastern Connecticut Conference Division I action.

Final: NFA 31, East Lyme 6.

The Wildcats improved 2-6 overall, 1-1 in the division, while Vikings (4-4, 1-1) saw their winning streak end at four.

Gaughan had a big game, finishing with touchdown catches of 36, 21 and 51 yards. Rhys Surprenant added a 25-yard field goal.

It was an important bounce-back game for the Wildcats, who suffered a humbling lopsided loss to New Milford last week.

“We had a rough week because the Homecoming game was definitely not the product that we wanted to put on the field,” NFA coach Erik Larka said. “We all did a little self-reflection. I think we were a little embarrassed by the New Milford game. So when we got back to work, we really wanted to grind and pull this one out.

“This was one that we really wanted as a team and I’m really happy for the players. That’s a good team.”

The Wildcats never trailed, holding a 14-0 lead at halftime.

They kept the momentum in the second half, scoring two third quarter touchdowns to extend the lead to 28-0.

Speedy Jeremiah Paul’s electrifying 59-yard punt return set up NFA at the East Lyme 18. Three plays later, Ayoyo scored on a one-yard plunge.

The Wildcats were back in the end zone on their next drive, as quarterback Gage Hinkley found Gaughan for a 51-yard touchdown pass play. Their two quarterback system was very effective.

The Vikings struggled to move the ball throughout the game and had several drives derailed by penalties. Quarterback Ronin McNamara was regularly under pressure and had a pass dropped in the end zone.

East Lyme broke its drought early in the fourth quarter, scoring on senior Fabian Riley’s 36 yard touchdown run. Riley ran hard right to the final whistle, finishing with 160 yards on the ground.

The NFA defense continually rose to the occasion.

“The defense balled out for sure,” Larka said. “The goal was to get a shutout. We were up 28-0 and we did a lot of substitutions on that one touchdown that they got. At the end of the day, everybody practices so we wanted to get everybody in the game.”

Mistakes hurt the Vikings right from the start. Two turnovers – interceptions by Jake Kenny and Talon Amado, Jr. – led to NFA touchdowns.

First, Ayoyo threw a beautifully placed pass down the middle to a streaking Gaugan for a 35-yard score on NFA’s second drive of the game.

With 35 seconds left before halftime, Gaughan caught a short pass from Ayoyo, broke free and fought his way into the end zone to complete the 21-yard scoring play for a 14-0 edge.

The Wildcats finished off the victory from there.

The Vikings missed two-way standout Aidan Patterson, who suffered a calf injury in practice and didn’t play Friday.

“When we lost AP last this week, it took the (wind out) of our sails,” East Lyme coach Rudy Bagos said. “You could see it. I think we were all hoping he would be able to go but he just wasn’t able to.”

“But I’m not making any excuses. NFA played great. They out-hustled us and out-played us and beat us in every facet of the game. They deserved to win. Our effort wasn’t there.”

g.keefe@theday.com