Norco 40 - Eagles 22
NORCO, CA., August 26, 2021 – The schedule got more difficult for the Eagles as they headed east on the 91 Freeway to the Inland Empire on Thursday for a date at Norco. The Cougars came into the contest 0-5 versus Trinity League schools in recent seasons. That list included Servite, Orange Lutheran and St. John Bosco. After two quarters of play, it looked like SMCHS would keep that streak in tact, as they led 16-13. But Norco’s luck would change after intermission as they came out of the locker room charged-up. The Panthers gained momentum as they put together a solid mix of running and passing drives en route to a 40-22 win. Defensively, Norco would stymie the Eagles with solid line play, holding them to just 11 yards rushing in the second half.
SMCHSs quarterback Jaxon Potter did pass for 247 yards on 19-of-39 attempts (48.7%) and two touchdowns. He found Niko Lopez in the end zone for the second-consecutive game. Sophomore Kyle Brody caught his first-career touchdown pass, as well. Nick Gallegos led the team in receiving yards with 94. Defensively, Donovan Comestro and Benjamin Durham led the club with 12 total tackles each. Defensive tackle Hero Kanu had three quarterback hurries and two tackles-for-loss. On special teams, two kickers combined to connect for three field goals. Jonathan Connor Teasley hit from 41 and 33 yards out, while Blake Wilson was successful from 46 yards.
| Norco | 13 | 0 | 14 | 13 | 40 |
| Santa Margarita | 7 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 22 |
SM – Brody 17 pass from Potter (Teasley kick)
NOR – Ott 39 run (M. Verdiell kick)
NOR – Rodriguez 78 pass from Crum (J. Verdiell run failed)
SM – Teasley 41 FG
SM – Wilson 46 FG
SM – Teasley 31 FG
NOR – Gray 19 pass from Crum (M. Verdiell kick)
NOR – Gray 15 pass from Crum (M. Verdiell kick)
NOR – Ott 31 run (M. Verdiell kick failed)
SM – Lopez 15 pass from Potter (Teasley kick blocked)
NOR – Crum 6 run (M. Verdiell kick)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: NOR - Ott 16-113, Crum 9-54; SM - Rivera 8-24, Foye 7-19
Passing: NOR - Crum 21-30-0-326; SM - Potter 19-39-0-247
Receiving: NOR - Rodriguez 6-160, Gray 10-120; SM - Gallegos 5-94, Lopez 6-61
Summary by Chuck Nan
Statistics by Shane Mielke
Passing attack lifts Norco football past Santa Margarita
QB Kyle Crum and receiver Grant Gray connect for two third-quarter TDs as the Cougars overcome halftime deficit
NORCO – The chemistry between Kyle Crum and Grant Gray is special.
The Norco quarterback and receiver combined for two touchdowns in the third quarter as the Cougars toppled Santa Margarita, 40-22, in an electric nonleague football matchup on Thursday night.
“We knew with our chemistry that we’d have the better connection in the second half, so we really keyed on those 1-on-1 opportunities,” Gray said.
Gray had 10 receptions for 130 yards as Norco (2-0 overall) totaled more than 480 yards on offense to win its seventh consecutive game of 2021.
“We stuck to our guns with our play calling, and we just got after it,” Norco coach Chuck Chastian said. “First half we kind of sputtered but second half I liked our tempo.”
Jaxon Potter was 19 of 39 for 247 yards for Santa Margarita (1-1 overall), which led 16-13 at halftime but was stopped on four of its five second-half possessions.
“The biggest issue for us is that Norco played really well in the second half and exploited some mismatches that hurt us,” Santa Margarita coach Anthony Rouzier said.
Santa Margarita meant business from its first possession – a 12-play, 65-yard drive that ended with a 17-yard pass from Potter to Kyle Brody.
Norco was up for the challenge and Crum went to Gray for 13 yards on first down before handing it to Jaydn Ott, first for a 12-yard gain and then a 39-yard touchdown run to tie the game.
The Cougars took advantage of some early misfires from Potter, and grabbed the lead when Crum hit Elijah Rodriguez over the middle for a 78-yard score with 4 seconds left in the first quarter.
Santa Margarita’s defense produced some stops, and two Eagles kickers combined to make field goals of 41, 45 and 33 yards, respectively, in the second quarter to help retake the lead.
On the opening drive of the second half, Crum hit Gray for 39 yards to cross midfield before finishing the drive with 19-yard connection to Gray for a 20-16 lead.
Santa Margarita went 3-and-out on its next possession and Norco took over near midfield. Crum then led the Cougars on an 11-play drive that culminated in a 15-yard touchdown pass to Gray and a 27-16 lead.
Ott added a 31-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. He finished with 113 yards on 16 carries.
Potter found Niko Lopez (six catches) for a late touchdown, but the Eagles gained just 11 rushing yards in the second half.
By Dennis Pope
Friday, August 26, 2021
The Orange County Register
