Page 10 THE NORTON TELEGRAM Tuesday, October 27, 2009 Jays lose to Scott City 14-6 By DICK BOYD land in our fi nal district game to Norton kicked off to start the 14-0 with 4:58 left but the fi ghting [email protected] continue the season. game and defense was the name of Blue Jays did not give up, played On Friday night, for the third “I’m proud of our team and the game in the early going. Nor- even harder and almost rallied for time this season, the Norton Com- how hard they play. We just need ton held Scott City to three-and- the win. munity High School varsity foot- to keep working to get better in out, the Beavers held the Blue Jays Perez returned the kickoff to ball team lost a hard-fought game each game.” to three-and-out and the “Blue the Norton 23. After 2 incomplete with a state-ranked team when the Statistics in the game were very Swarm” defense forced Scott City passes and 1 run, Gall punted Blue Jays traveled to unbeaten close. Norton had 134 yards rush- to another three-and-out. to the Scott City 35. After the Scott City and were outscored ing on 32 carries for a 4.2 yards per Norton’s second possession Beavers got another first down 14-6. carry average and Scott City had started on the Blue Jays’ 9-yard- by inches, the Blue Jay defense Earlier this season, Norton 180 yards rushing on 50 attempts line after a long Beaver punt. stopped the Beaver offense cold played Smith Center even before for an average of 3.6 yards. Terrell Lane found a good hole and they punted to the Norton 21. losing 20-14, then played Ellis in a Norton had an advantage in the opened over the left side of the Lane gained 6 yards on 2 runs and game that appeared to be heading passing game where the Jays had line by Blue Jay blockers and the quarter ended with Scott City into overtime until the Railroad- 131 yards compared to 59 for the ran all the way to the Scott City leading 14-0. ers completed a last second touch- Beavers. Norton had total yardage 21 yard line for a 70 yard gain! Fourth quarter down pass to win 22-14. of 265 yards compared to 239 for Hampered by a block in the back The Blue Jays were forced to Otherwise, the Blue Jays have Scott City. penalty, the Blue Jays were unable punt again, however, and Gall’s had little trouble handling five Both teams punted six times, to score, however, and Scott City punt carried to the Scott City 25. other opponents to compile a cur- return yards and penalties were took over. The Beavers got another first rent 5-3 record. similar and Norton lost just one For the third time, the gang down by inches on the 35 and a The loss to Scott City was the fumble compared to none for tackling Norton defense forced first down on the 47 before be- second of two District games for Scott City. the Beavers into a three-and-out. ing hurt by several penalties and the Blue Jays who easily defeated Coach Melvin started the fol- Scott City punted to the Norton punting out of bounds on the Ness City-Dighton 48-0 the week lowing players on the offensive 43. Quarterback Pfannenstiel Norton 45. before. The fi nal District contest line: junior Ryan Blecha, 185 connected with Ashton Draper Gaining yardage on several will be at 7 p.m. Thursday evening pounds, left tackle; senior Mar- for a first down on the Beaver keeper plays by Pfannenstiel and versus Goodland at Ward Field cus Herman, 175 pounds, left 27. Two plays later, Norton suf- a 25 yard Pfannenstiel pass to in Norton. A victory would put guard; junior Kaid McKenna, fered their only lost fumble of the Hamel on the 17, Norton drove Norton in the District runner-up 175 pounds, center; junior Luke game and the Beavers took over down for their fi rst touchdown. A spot with a contest next Tuesday Ninemire, 190 pounds, right on their 31. personal foul against Scott City versus another district winner. guard; junior Landon Keiswet- Jason Williams broke several moved the ball to the 8-yard-line, Just a positive play here or ter, 175 pounds, right tackle; Norton tackles on a nice run to the then Pfannenstiel passed to Hamel there in any of Norton’s three senior J.D. Gall, 180 pounds, tight Scott City 45 for the Beavers’ fi rst in the end zone and he made a div- losses would have resulted in a end; senior Ashton Draper, 180 fi rst-and-ten of the game. On sec- ing catch! victory over some outstanding pounds, wide receiver and senior ond down, Alex Swan swept left Laughlin’s extra point kick was teams who, undoubtedly, will go Landon Hamel, 160 pounds, wide end for the Beavers’ second fi rst blocked, leaving the score at 14-6 far in the playoffs. receiver. down on the Norton 36. Williams with 5:32 left in the game. The loss at Scott City was a Starting in the backfi eld were: gained 2 more yards as the fi rst Laughlin’s kickoff was returned defensive battle. The fi rst quarter senior Connor Pfannenstiel, 155 quarter ended in a scoreless tie. by Hayes to the Scott City 28. Second quarter ended in a scoreless tie with each pounds, quarterback; senior Zane After one rushing play where the team able to earn only two fi rst Perez, 180 pounds, fullback; A fl at pass from quarterback Ron Beavers lost a yard, they went downs. Norton was inside the junior Terrell Lane, 210 pounds, Baker to Swan got a fi rst down on aerial. A fl at pass headed toward Beaver 30-yard line twice in the tailback. the Norton 25. The Beavers then a potential Scott City receiver but period but could not score. Starting on defense were: junior got a fi rst down by inches on the Hamel brought the Norton crowd Earlier in the second quarter, Jeremy Sproul, 200 pounds, left Norton 15. A quick pitch to Smith to their feet as he suddenly bolted Norton defensive back Landon Hamel surprised the Scott Scott City drove 69 yards for their end; junior Justin Griffith, 180 allowed him to scamper around in front of the receiver-to-be, City quarterback when he bolted in front of a receiver-to-be, first touchdown and held a 7-0 pounds, left tackle; Herman, nose end for the fi rst touchdown of the made a diving interception and intercepted the pass and rolled onto the turf to give the Blue halftime lead. Norton received the guard; senior Tyler Cook, 215 game. Jordan Habiger kicked the rolled onto the turf on the Scott Jays one last chance to rally for a win over the Beavers. kickoff to open the third quarter pounds, right tackle; junior Rylee extra point and Scott City led 7-0 – Telegram photo by Dick Boyd and drove inside the Scott City 30 Stanley, 150 pounds, right end; with 9:57 remaining in the fi rst for the third time in the game but Lane, McKenna, Gall, lineback- half. was denied and the Beavers drove ers; Draper, Hamel and Perez, Hamel returned the kickoff to 74 yards for their second and fi nal defensive backs. the Norton 28, a pitchout to Lane touchdown to extend their lead to Terrell Lane was leading rusher resulted in a 15 yard gain but the 14-0 with 4:58 left. for Norton with 88 yards on 10 Blue Jays gained just 2 more yards On both of their touchdown carries for an average of 8.8 yards in 2 plays before fumbling. Norton drives, Scott City got one first per carry. Other Norton ball carri- got back on the ball but didn’t have down by inches to keep the drives ers were: Connor Pfannenstiel, 12 a fi rst down and Gall punted out of alive. for 32 yards; Zane Perez, 7 for 15 bounds on the Scott City 26. Norton broke into the scor- yards; Jeremy Sproul, 2 for minus A pass to No. 16 Dakota Hayes ing column with 5:32 left in the 3 yards and Landon Hamel, 1 for netted 17 yards, then Smith got a game when senior wide receiver 2 yards. fi rst down on the Norton 43. The Landon Hamel made a diving Pfannenstiel was 7 of 17 pass- Blue Jay defense held and, after catch of a Connor Pfannenstiel ing for 131 yards. an exchange of punts, Scott City pass in the end zone. The extra Hamel was leading pass re- downed a punt on the Norton point kick was blocked but the ceiver. He caught 4 passes for 70 1-yard-line!. Gall punted out of his Jays had cut the deficit to just yards. Lane caught 2 for 29 yards own end zone and Swan returned eight points. and Draper had 1 reception for 32 the pigskin 11 yards to the Nor- After the kickoff by Caleb yards. Hamel had 1 punt return ton 22. Sproul and Stanley came Laughlin, Hamel made another for 10 yards and 2 kickoff returns charging in from their defensive diving catch, this time of a Scott for 25 yards. Perez had 1 kickoff positions to sack the Scott City City pass and Norton had the return for 20 yards.