CLEVELAND, Ohio – Norton spoiled homecoming for Streetsboro as the Panthers defeated the Rockets, 23-13, Friday night.
Norton came into Friday ranked No. 25 within this week’s cleveland.com Top 25. Streetsboro was not ranked.
The Norton Panthers improve to an undefeated 5-0 (their Week 1 game was cancelled) and 3-0 in Metro Athletics Conference play. With the loss, the Rockets fall to 4-2 (2-1).
A dominant second half by the Panthers’ defense drove Norton to victory.
“This game shows our toughness,” said Norton head coach Glen Kruger. “We talk about the 1-0 mentality every day. The score resets every day. We just have to be 1-0 every day, and it showed tonight.”
Streetsboro got the ball rolling early with a red zone interception, which they turned into a 70-yard touchdown by senior running back Janiere Cook with 4:44 to play in the first quarter.
Norton responded in the second quarter as senior quarterback Trey Kersten found Buddy Willig for a 9-yard touchdown to tie the game at 7-7.
Two Streetsboro missed field goals kept the game tied going into halftime.
A blocked punt by Norton that went out of the back of the end zone, followed by a Marcus Brown 9-yard rushing touchdown, put the Panthers up 16-7 going into the fourth quarter.
Junior running back Jason Beverly scored from 4 yards out to extend the Norton lead to 23-7 as the fourth quarter began.
The Rockets showed fight late, as a blocked punt was returned by Cook for a defensive touchdown. A failed two-point conversion made it 23-13, but it was too little, too late.
“They were more physical than us,” said Streetsboro head coach Pete Thompson. “We had some crucial penalties that put us behind the sticks, but their physicality in the second half was much greater than ours.”
The Panthers dominated in the trenches, with 298 yards rushing. Jason Beverly led the way, with 19 carries for 136 yards and one touchdown. Senior Marcus Brown rushed 19 times for 102 yards and one touchdown. Quarterback Trey Kersten added 47 yards on eight attempts.
“All credit to our linemen. They work so hard at practice every day. They are the reason we have running gaps,” said running back Jason Beverly following the win.
As for the pass game, Norton quarterback Trey Kersten finished 8 of 17 for 82 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
The Rockets struggled to get the pass game going as quarterback Colton Cox finished 2 of 12 with only 11 yards passing.
Each Streetsboro running back had 11 carries, with Cook finishing with 56 yards, and Marcus Concil finished with 85 yards and one touchdown.
Both teams will be on the road next Friday as Norton will travel to Cloverleaf, and Streetsboro will travel to Woodridge.