Norris tops Norwood
The Norris Senators used a big first half to roll to a 30-6 win over visiting Norwood last Tuesday.
The Jaguars took the opening possession but were forced to punt. The Senators blocked the punt and took over at the Norwood 27-yard line.
Five plays later, Anthony White went 15 yards for the score.
Tate Russell then completed the two-point conversion pass to Bryson Vowell to give Norris an 8-0 lead with 2:11 remaining in the opening quarter.
On the next Norwood possession, the Jaguars appeared to be putting together a solid drive when Vowell intercepted a pass and returned it 60 yards for the score to end the first quarter. The touchdown was called back on an illegal blocking penalty.
Three plays later, Russell threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to White.
The two-point conversion attempt failed but the Senators led 14-0 with 6:55 left in the half.
With Norris Head Coach Richie Noe shuttling younger players in and out on defense, Norwood was held to a three and out, forcing a punt.
Russell opened the ensuing drive with a 30-yard completion to Garrison Terry. Gavin Noe then ran for eight yards. On third down, Noe ran the ball in from four yards out to get the touchdown.
The two-point conversion attempt failed but the Senators led 22-0 with 2:58 remaining in the half.
Norwood closed the half with an impressive 12-play, 60-yard drive. Taner Hutchison capped the drive with a five-yard run for a touchdown.
The two-point conversion failed and the Norris lead was cut to 22-6 at halftime.
In the second half, the Senators opened with a score when Russell threw a touchdown pass to Vowell.
Russell then ran in the two-point conversion to push the Norris lead to 30-6 with 5:57 remaining in the third quarter.
That was the final scoring play of the game as the Jaguars got close a couple of times but were denied by the Senators’ defense.
Noe took the opportunity to let some of his younger players pick up some experience for the remainder of the game.
“We showed up ready to play but we’ve had a lot of injuries and we’re just short on numbers. The injury bug got us pretty bad,” said Jason Leinart, head coach of the Jaguars.
Norwood had just 16 players dressed Tuesday evening.
“We’re getting better but football is a rough sport and we’re dropping players right and left. At Norwood we started from scratch and we’re building it the right way but it’s going to take some time,” he said.
“Coach Leinart’s team is obviously very well coached but they were a little short-handed tonight and I don’t think that’s any secret. We’re starting to get healthy again and we got to play a lot of young guys tonight,” said Richie Noe, head coach of the Senators.
Norris is off next week. They return to action on Oct. 3 when they visit Lake City.
The Senators will play in the championship game at Anderson County High School — tentatively scheduled for Oct. 5 — against a yet-to-be-determined opponent.