Last modified: Monday, December 1, 2008 10:58 AM EST
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| Norton's Brian Desmond hauls in the second of his two touchdown passes in the first quarter, a 35-yarder from Brendan St. Germain. The other was a 46-yarder. (Staff photo by Tom Maguire)
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One-way ticket
BY PETER GOBIS SUN CHRONICLE STAFF
BELLINGHAM - There was an exclamation mark on the very first down on defense when Ricky Travers dropped a Bellingham High Blackhawk for a two-yard loss.
There was an exclamation mark on the very first down on offense when Brian Desmond swept the left side of Anderson Field untouched for a 46-yard touchdown romp.
And there were three resounding, fourth-quarter exclamations marks when freshman Nick Jenkins latched onto a pass from sophomore Brendan Curtin for a 59-yard aerial scoring strike. Then junior Nyles Stewart not only returning a pass interception for a touchdown, but a fumble, too - both within a span of 55 seconds.
But the biggest and the best exclamations mark was when the scoreboard clock clicked 0:00 - when the Norton High football Lancers had defeated Bellingham 54-0 to not only clinch the Tri-Valley League title, but a berth in the MIAA Division 3 playoffs.
"We've had a great season, but we still have some unfinished business," said Lancer senior running back Sean Ryan, the Thanksgiving Day Offensive MVP, who rushed for 116 yards and two touchdowns and caught two passes for another 53 yards and a touchdown.
In winning their 10th game of the 2008 season and advancing to the MIAA Division 3 playoff game Tuesday against Abington, the Lancers did not waste a moment or an opportunity - scoring on their first four possessions of the first half, scoring on the first play twice.
"Where this program has come in three years is unbelievable," said the architect, Norton coach Robb McCoy. "This is a great group of kids. It's the culmination of a lot of hard work, a lot of dedication by a lot of people - it's all about them."
The Lancers were resounding on offense, scoring on drives of 46, 61, 43 and 83 yards during the first half in taking a 27-0 lead by intermission; amassing nearly 400 yards all told, having 10 plays for gains of 15 yards or more.
The Lancers were determined on defense, not allowing the Blackhawks beyond their own 49-yard line on six first-half series; forcing 22 incomplete passes; senior defensive end Darren Doucette having a pair of sacks for 18 lost yards; and in addition to Stewart's pair of fourth-quarter takeaways for touchdowns, sophomore linebacker Mike Twitchell snuffing out Bellingham's first series of the second half with a pass interception as well.
"It was a great accomplishment," said Norton captain and linebacker Ricky Robichaud, the Lancers recovering from a stunning loss at Medfield to gain no less than a share of first place in the TVL with a victory against Medway. "That (losing to Medfield) was a fluke. Now we have a good chance to win (the Division 3 Super Bowl)."
Norton junior quarterback Brendan St. Germain completed seven of nine passes during the first half for 150 yards, including a 35-yard scoring strike to Desmond to finish off the Lancers' second offensive series and a 42-yarder to Ryan four minutes into the second quarter.
After Desmond put Norton ahead just two minutes into the game, the Lancers scored on their second series - despite a pair of holding penalties. Ryan converted a third-down play with a 19-yard run to the Bellingham 23 behind tackle Chris Hamel.
Robichaud set the Lancers in motion for their third touchdown, snuffing out a completed Bellingham screen pass for a 10-yard loss on the first play of the series.
No sooner did Norton regain possession of the ball than Ryan took a pitch and scooted 43 yards for a third Lancer score with 28 seconds left in the first quarter.
The Lancers went to their hurry-up, passing scheme to score a fourth touchdown. Aided by a Bellingham pass interference penalty, St. Germain then completed three passes, including an 18-yarder to Desmond, then a 42-yarder along the left sideline to Ryan.
"That's been our thing, to score early," said McCoy of Norton's quick strike skills. "That sets the tone."
And wouldn't you know it, on the very first play at the outset of the second half, Ryan, seemingly bottled up by a trio of Blackhawk defenders behind the line of scrimmage, squirmed away for a touchdown - only to have it nullified by an illegal block penalty. So when the ball was snapped again, Ryan took it again for a touchdown, 22 yards.
The Lancers fielded a complete sub-varsity roster thereafter through the second half of play, on both sides of the line of scrimmage, the Blackhawks crossing midfield just twice on six series - being stifled inside the Norton 10-yard line after a blocked Lancer punt.
And then it was time for the reserves to rollick and relish the moment. Jenkins, who has 10 TDs with the junior varsity this season, hauled in a Curtin pass along the left sideline and tip-toed his way into the end zone for a touchdown.
Then the 5-foot-8 Stewart came up awfully big twice for Norton. First he intercepted a pass four plays into Bellingham's second drive of the fourth quarter, 37 yards for a touchdown.
Then No. 10 delivered another six points, this time picking up a Blackhawk fumble and darting 38 yards along the right side for Norton's eighth touchdown.
"We tell the kids all the time," said McCoy. "It doesn't matter when their number is called, you have to do your job. The younger kids were ready. The kids came to play hard and they did."
And the Lancers get to practice a few more days.
"We worked hard to win the two trophies (the Thanksgiving Day and TVL)," said Travers, the Lancers' Defensive MVP, who also had six conversion kicks. "But, losing in the playoffs is unacceptable." |
