Norris rallies past Robertsville 30-26
In a matchup featuring the past two Tennessee Valley Athletic Conference football champions, Norris Middle School found a way to come out on top.
But it wasn’t easy.
The Senators had to rally from behind to defeat Robertsville 30-26 Thursday night at Anderson County High School.
The Rams, playing their first game under new Coach Sean Miller, led for much of the contest, only to see Norris mount a comeback and notch a victory in the 2026 season opener for both teams.
It’s early, but Norris has already been forced to battle adversity in the form of injuries.
“We’re an injured football team right now,” Norris Coach Richie Noe said. “We’re playing a lot of sixth- and seventh-graders right now, and we usually play one or two sixth-graders every year.
“This year, we have sixth-graders all over the place. We’re kind of smoke and mirrors right now.”
Despite being shorthanded, the Senators found enough offense to prevail.
Jaxon Barrett scored a pair of touchdowns for Norris, while Josiah Downs added a touchdown and a two-point conversion.
The Senators also struck through the air as Jace Leach hauled in a 35-yard touchdown pass from Jaxon Mitchell.
Logan Lambert and Colten Barrett helped set the tone in the trenches, leading Norris on the offensive and defensive lines, according to Noe.
For Robertsville, the loss was a tough one to swallow after the Rams controlled much of the game.
But Miller remained upbeat about his team’s performance.
“We led most of the way, but then, in the second half, we made some mistakes,” Miller said. “We had some significant penalties, and we had a turnover on an onside kick, and we had a bad snap.
“But this was a good ballgame, and you have to credit Norris, because they did the things that they had to do to win the game. But I do believe if we keep doing what we need to do, we can play good football and reach our goals. We did some good things.”
Amarii Porter provided a spark for the Rams, scoring on the ground and catching a touchdown pass.
Charles Huddleston II added a rushing touchdown, while Caleb Malone connected with Landon Carter for another Robertsville score.
