Norristown clinches conference title, 27-0
Norristown clinches conference title, 27-0
Norristown senior tailback Sheldon Mayer led the Eagles to a 27-0 victory over Upper Moreland last night as he gained 214 yards on 17 carries and scored two rushing touchdowns. Mayer even intercepted a pass as a defensive back as Norristown clinched the Suburban One League American Conference title.
The win also guarantees the Eagles (9-1, 5-1) a home game in the first round of the District 1 Class AAAA playoffs.
Upper Moreland (5-4, 3-3) sneaked into the Class AAA playoffs despite losing a game it could have won to clinch a berth. West Chester Henderson's 49-21 loss to Downingtown East made room for the Golden Bears in the postseason picture.
But last night Norristown's defense shut down Upper Moreland to record its fourth shutout in six conference games.
Mayer's 42-yard touchdown run and the ensuing extra point by sophomore kicker Gerard Fox in the second quarter were the only first-half points by either team in a session that ended with Norristown ahead, 7-0.
The Eagles exploded for 20 points in the third quarter on touchdown runs by Mayer (72 yards), senior wide receiver Anthony Robey (51 yards) and sophomore quarterback Shannon Mayer (1 yard).
Down by 14-0, Upper Moreland junior quarterback Matt Sawick (6 for 15 passing, 72 yards, three interceptions) hit senior wideout Ronye Dennis for big completions of 16 and 38 yards.
But a holding penalty nullified what would have been a 5-yard touchdown pass to Dennis on second and goal. The Golden Bears were pushed back to the 21-yard line, and two plays later Sawick was intercepted in the end zone by – who else? – Sheldon Mayer.
The tailback, doubling as a defensive back, returned the ball 31 yards to his team's 28-yard line. After a 5-yard first-down gain, Mayer broke free on a cutback right for his second touchdown of the game, a 72-yard scamper that extended Norristown's lead to 20-0.
In the first half, after Norristown deferred possession on the coin toss and Upper Moreland went three and out, the Eagles' offense drove 54 yards in nine plays to the edge of the Golden Bears' goal line.
But the Upper Moreland defense stood up Norristown signalcaller Shannon Mayer (6 for 12, 45 yards, one interception) on a fourth-and-goal quarterback sneak and took over on downs.
The Golden Bears caught a huge break after digging themselves a hole after calling an ill-advised fake punt that failed from their own 8-yard line. Norristown was whistled for a 5-yard face mask penalty that gave Upper Moreland an automatic first down.
Upper Moreland senior tailback Chris Smallwood (29 carries, 133 yards) then rattled off back-to-back runs of 17 and 28 yards to bring his offense out to midfield. He carried six more times for 29 yards to advance the ball to Norristown's 24. Smallwood gained 78 of 87 yards on the drive and finished the first half with 99 yards on 17 carries.
But the offense stalled.
Norristown then drove 77 yards in six plays, capped by a 42-yard touchdown run down the right sideline by Sheldon Mayer.
Norristown 0 7 20 0 - 27
Upper Moreland 0 0 0 0 - 0
N: Sheldon Mayer 42 run (Gerard Fox kick)
N: Anthony Robey 51 run (Fox kick)
N: Sheldon Mayer 72 run (kick fail)
N: Shannon Mayer 1 run (Fox kick)
