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ROCKY RIVER, Ohio – Head Coach Josh Wells said before the contest that his team would make a concerted effort to run the ball against the Normandy Invaders and that they did. Early and often. Led by the one-two punch of Jr. RB Dameon Crawford, 14 carries, 126 yards and 2 TD’s and Jr. RB Matthew Popovich, 10 carries, 125 yards and a TD, the Pirates rolled right from the start and cruised to a convincing 44-7 win.
On Homecoming Night the crowd was energized from the start and Sr. Brendan Connors added more excitement by taking the opening kick-off 72 yards for the game’s first score just 15 seconds into it. After an ensuing Normandy punt, it was Connors again grabbing a 22 yard pass from QB Cameron Blue, the conversion failed, however, and the Pirates led 13-0. A 37 yard FG by Michael Konrad and a 1 yard run by Crawford put the Pirates comfortably ahead at the end of the quarter 23-0.
The second quarter was the Popovich, Crawford show as the Pirates just kept coming at the Invaders with off tackle runs by Crawford and Popovich blasts up the middle. At the 9:34 mark, Popovich busted a tackle and raced 61 yards to give River a 30-0 lead. After a Normandy fumble, one of 3 forced turnovers on the night, Crawford scored again from a yard out and a 37-0 lead. Crawford made his way into the Rocky River record books late in the 2nd with a 5 yard run surpassing the 1000 yard plateau for the season. As the quarter ran down the Pirates forced a punt and Sr. Jack Aerni took it to the house for a 70 yard TD to close out the first half scoring and the Pirates in command 44-0.
The second half saw the Invaders come out with a bit more energy led by the running of QB Ryan Dengler, who broke off a dazzling 51 yard run which led to the Invaders’ only points, a 6 yard run by RB Brandon Callahan. Normandy’s defense was able to hold Rocky River scoreless in the second half but the outcome was never in doubt.
After the game, Crawford spoke about his milestone: ” I have to credit the guys up front, they open the holes for me every week, I wouldn’t do it with out them.”
Rocky River improves to 4-3 on the season and travels to face the Parma Redmen on 10/14 at 7pm. Normandy falls to 0-7 and will host Elyria Catholic, Thursday 10/13.
Scoring Summary:
1st: RR- Connors 72 KO return PAT Good (11:45)
RR- Connors 22 pass from Blue, conversion failed (9:40)
RR- Konrad 37 FG (3:31)
RR- Crawford 1 run PAT Good (0:36)
2nd: RR- Popovich 61 run PAT Good (10:25)
RR- Crawford 1 run PAT Good ( 7:40)
RR- Aerni 70 Punt Return PAT Good (1:06)
3rd: N Callahan 6 yard run PAT Good (6:13)
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