Senators roll to 44-26 win, stay perfect
Norris Middle School’s football team kept its perfect record intact with another dominant performance last week.
The Senators (3-0) traveled to West Knoxville and routed Christian Academy of Knoxville, 44-26, Thursday night at Warrior Stadium.
The win over the Warriors was a complete team effort for Norris, which was slated to put its unbeaten mark on the line against Jefferson (3-0) Tuesday at Anderson County High School. Results were not available at press time, but Norris Coach Richie Noe said he expected a battle.
“Tuesday night should be a heavyweight fight for this age level,” Noe said. “We tell the kids all the time that there are bigger games ahead, but this is the biggest game you’ve played in your lifetime thus far.”
The Senators rolled despite missing two key players to illness and injury.
“I love how this team was able to still function at a high level even though we were without Stephen Blakney and Cannon Carroll,” Noe said. “This group keeps evolving, and we like the direction it’s headed.
“We have a ton of eighth-graders who didn’t start against Elizabethton (in a scrimmage) earlier this season,” the coach said. “Take Nathan Greene, for example. He got his first touchdown Thursday, but more importantly, he filled in for Cam (Wilcox), giving him breaks at fullback.”
Wilcox, the team’s leading scorer, added two more touchdowns against the Warriors.
Hunter Wade starred again on both sides of the ball, recording 14 tackles on defense while adding a touchdown run and a touchdown pass on offense.
Skyler Whitson had a big night, catching two touchdown passes and grabbing an interception.
Quarterback Cooper Downs went 11-for-18 for 250 yards and three touchdowns while avoiding turnovers for the third straight week.
