Norristown wins second straight game over Pottstown behind solid rushing attack, goal-line defense

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NORRISTOWN >> Just a week ago, Norristown’s defense made a massive goal-line stand to win its first game of the season over Pottsgrove.

Against Pottstown on Friday, the Eagles once again held firm between the pylons to remain ahead and take a 21-12 win over the Trojans at Roosevelt Field.

Up 7-6 with 4:40 to go before halftime, Norristown preserved its lead by taking over on downs on its own 1-yard line.

“Our strength is our defense right now,” Eagles coach Joe Milligan said. “The kids definitely love playing defense, they’re honing in on it and take a little pride. If they can’t score, then there’s a big chance you’re gonna win.”

Before the strong finish, Norristown (2-2) had a rough start. Junior fullback Nazhier Booker recovered a muffed punt and took the ball into the end zone to put Pottstown (1-3) up first, 6-0 with a missed point after.

Elijah Washington was able to intercept Pottstown’s Joniel Oister to set up the Eagles at midfield, but a fumble on the following snap gave the ball right back to the Trojans’ senior signal caller.

“I feel like it set the tone for a little bit,” Booker said on his special teams touchdown. “Then we started getting tired, messed us up a little bit, but we’ll get better.”

Sophomore quarterback Brendan Farrell hit Rashon Giddens with a 13-yard strike, and after the latter bobbled the ball and gained control, spun into the end zone to take what became a permanent lead one minute and 40 seconds into the second quarter and rode a 7-6 advantage at the half following the goal-line stand.

With five minutes to go in the third quarter, Marzon Carr broke open on a 29-yard run to the house to extend Norristown’s lead.

“Our running backs just run hard on the ground,” Carr said. “We just wanted it more tonight. That’s it. We wanted it more tonight.”

Carr ran for 34 yards on five carries to go with his score. Junior running back Meyon Ferrell chopped up a game-high 111 yards on 19 touches.

Jamal Griffin also paced the backfield rotation with 69 yards on 11 carries and punched in a 1-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter to give Norristown some breathing room.

“I thought we had a great game plan coming in,” Pottstown defensive coordinator Jimai Springfield said. “It came down to fatigue and we lost a couple players to injury, and we had a couple young guys fill in but even with that, Norristown also had injuries as well.

“It came down to what team was going to take control of the game with the advantage they had and Norristown had an advantage running the ball against us in that third quarter and they did well. I tip my cap to them. They found a weakness in our defense and they exploited it.”

Oister took a hit on a keeper that popped his helmet off and saw him exit the game in the third quarter. Rasheen Bostic went under center and his first throw was a 37-yard go-ahead score to Booker (12 carries, 62 yards) to cut the game to two points, having failed to convert on the two-point attempt.

Norristown running back Marzon Carr celebrates a 29-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter against Pottstown at Roosevelt Field on Friday. (Evan Wheaton – MediaNews Group)

On the final drive of the night, Oister checked back into the game for Pottstown and picked up three first downs with his legs as time expired with the Trojans once again knocking on Norristown’s door in the red zone.

“I would say it was more of a sacrifice for the team,” Oister said. “It wasn’t just for me, it was for the whole team. Just did it for the whole team.”

Pottstown kicked the door open coming out of its locker room to start the third quarter with Dillon Mayes returning the kickoff to the opposing 15-yard line. The Traojans had to settle for a missed 33-yard field attempt.

An interception from Tajhir Gaskins with seven minutes left in the game effectively left Pottstown with little time to retaliate.
“They were scrappy. I give them credit, they came out and battled and did not make it easy for us,” Milligan said. “We were just able to wear them down a little bit.”

Norristown 21, Pottstown 12
Pottstown 6 0 6 0 – 12
Norristown 0 7 7 7 – 21
First quarter
P – Booker fumble return (kick failed), 10:02
Second quarter
N – Giddens 13 pass from Farrell (kick good), 10:20
Third quarter
N – Carr 29 run (kick good), 4:59
P – Booker 37 pass from Bostic (run failed), 3:03
Fourth quarter
N – Griffin 1 run (kick good), 10:44
TEAM STATISTICS
N P
First downs 16 6
Rushes-Yards 38-214 36-123
Passing yards 18 58
Total yards 232 181
Passes C-A-I 2-12-0 4-10-2
Fumbles-Lost 2-1 1-1
Penalties-Yards 4-30 10-60
Punts 5 2
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Pottstown – Thomas 1-1; Aaron Winfield 4-27; Oister 14-36; Booker 12-62; Mayes 2-(minus-5); Bostic 3-2.
Norristown – Ferrell 19-111, Griffin 11-69, TD, Farrell 2-(minus-2), Carr 5-34, TD; Baird 1-2.
Passing
Pottstown – Oister 1-6, 17 yards, INT; Bostic 2-4, 41 yards, INT.
Norristown – Farrell 2-12, 18 yards, TD.
Receiving
Pottstown – Mayes 2-28; Booker 2-41, TD.
Norristown – Giddens 1-13, TD; Dieng 1-5.
Sacks: Norristown – Baird 1, Griffin 1.
Interceptions: Norristown – Washington, Gaskins.

Evan Wheaton

ewheaton

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