Norristown beats Boyertown for 1st win of season

EAST NORRITON >> For the first time this season the Norristown Area football team was able to line up in victory formation.

Behind a strong defensive pass rush and timely offensive passing attack, the Eagles edged the Boyertown Bears on Saturday afternoon.

A 37-yard touch pass from junior quarterback Izaiah Webb to Eleazar Hill proved to be the deciding score in the 20-14 victory. Hill also scored on a 62-yard strike in the second quarter to give the Eagles (1-8, 1-4 PAC Liberty) a lead they would never relinquish.

“Your biggest muscle in your body is your heart and we played with it,” Eagles coach Jason Powel said.“I am pleased with these guys. They kept fighting for weeks and they deserve it.”

The Bears (2-7, 1-4) scored first, as a three-yard Michael Thomas run snapped a streak of 13 consecutive scoreless quarters of football. Decimated by injuries and suspensions, players like Jerome Kapp were asked to play multiple roles.

The junior split time between quarterback and receiver in the groups’ fourth consecutive loss. Kapp threw a three-yard touchdown pass to the junior Thomas in the fourth quarter, but it was not enough.

“We are short in numbers and depth is a major thing in football,” Kapp said. “Our quarterback (Evan Giannetti) got setback with a shoulder injury so today we tried to spark some offense with me at quarterback and receiver.”

Kapp and sophomore Ayden Mathias, who also took snaps behind center, were under duress all afternoon. The Eagles recorded four sacks and two interceptions to stall any hope of the Bears breaking through.

“Our defensive line played awesome,” Powel said. “Then our offensive line took over in the second half. We moved the ball down the field. And when you give Izaiah some time, we can make plays.”

There is still football left to be played for both sides and plenty of hours spent in the film room. The Eagles received their payoff for their relentless search for win number one today and now the Bear swill have to continue its soul searching for an answer in their final game of the season next week.

“We are going to watch the film and try to fix our mistakes,” Kapp said. “We have one week of practice, one more game, and for the seniors we want to make it a good one.”

On this day, it was the Eagles who found a way to break through. Senior linebacker and running back Joe Gionnone, who rushed for 90 yards in the win, could not contain his excitement after his quarterback Webb took the final kneel down and the clock hit zeros.

“This means everything,” Gionnone said. “I am proud of my team. I am proud of my coaches. We might bend, but we are never going to break. We had our ups and downs and we just want to keep going up from here.”