Back in gym, Norristown looks to translate offseason work to gridiron

Two things are certain with Norristown’s football team. For one thing, the Eagles are hungry. And for another, this year’s group has been putting in more offseason work than in recent years.

That’s because last year marked the return of Norristown’s weight room after being out of service from March 2019 to Jan. 2022. Having a full calendar year of the facility back in use has been huge in getting the Eagles back into a better rhythm of physical preparation.

“These guys have been back in there since January, so we’re slowly but surely getting that piece of the culture back into it,” Norristown coach Joe Milligan said. “The more we get the weight room piece into it and guys are understanding the part of the weight room and how it affects their season, that’s where the work begins.”

Behind Milligan in his sixth year helming the program, along with new strength and conditioning coach Sean Sweeney on staff, the Eagles are already noticing immediate results.

“I feel like it’s way better than it was last year. We’ve been getting way more conditioning in,” said senior Quadir Drummond, who starts at outside linebacker and wide receiver. “One thing is, we aren’t going to be tired at all.”

All that offseason effort is geared toward building back up after a 3-7 campaign last fall. A win over Pioneer Athletic Conference Frontier Division Pottstown to close out the season etched one extra victory from a 2-8 record in 2021.

A building block in hand, the Eagles are now determined to find solid ground to work on with the double-barrel of both the proper work environment and determination to turn a page.

“Everybody’s always doubting us. Everybody just sees us as small, short,” Rashon Giddens said. “This year, we’re attacking more in the weight room. We’re conditioned, we ready.”

Having graduated 18 seniors, Norristown will be younger, but the Eagles return five starters on both sides of the ball. Chief among them are Drummond and Giddens, the latter being a 6-foot-2, 180-pound receiver and defensive back.

Two-way linemen Jonathan Hedgepeth and Dominic Esposito will have a major presence at the line of scrimmage for the Eagles. At quarterback is junior Brendan Farrell, who went 65-for-145 for 890 yards, seven touchdowns and five interceptions last year.

One notable departure is Jamal Griffin, a Mercury All-Area honorable mention at running back and linebacker now playing at Albright. Griffin rushed for 484 yards and six scores last season. Marzon Carr will be Norristown’s go-to man in the backfield while also playing linebacker on defense. Meyon Ferrell is also a returning two-way starter who garnered All-Area honorable mention honors last fall as well.

The Eagles have the commitment and dedication, coupled with raw talent and a better offseason work flow in the gym. They hope it’s a recipe for more in the win column, and are eager to have their work translate to the field.

“Like Rashon said, we’ve just been the underdogs forever at this point,” Hedgepeth said. “We’re just ready to win, show everybody what we’re really about.”

Norristown opens its season at home against Penn Wood on Aug. 25 before a gauntlet of PAC Frontier crossover on the road against Upper Merion (Aug. 31), Pottsgrove (Sept. 8) and Phoenixville (Sept. 15).

Conference play for the Eagles begins at home against Methacton on Sept. 22.

“We’re getting to that point I feel in my tenure here where players will remember the night they played Norristown football,” Milligan said. “We’re getting back to that point where they’ll realize every game will be a competitive game. We’re going to walk out with bumps and bruises being black and blue because these young men are hungry.”

SCHEDULE

Friday, August 25
Penn Wood vs Norristown, 7 p.m.
Thursday, August 31
Norristown vs Upper Merion, 7 p.m.
Friday, September 8
Norristown vs Pottsgrove, 7 p.m.
Friday, September 15
Norristown vs Phoenixville, 7 p.m.
Friday, September 22
Methacton vs Norristown, 7 p.m.
Friday, September 29
Norristown vs Boyertown, 7 p.m.
Friday, October 6
Norristown vs Owen J. Roberts, 7 p.m.
Friday, October 13
Perkiomen Valley vs Norristown, 7 p.m.
Friday, October 20
Spring-Ford vs Norristown, 7 p.m.
Friday, October 27
PAC Crossover vs Norristown, 7 p.m.