As a Norco fan, I had a real positive feeling as I arrived at this game. The energy level amongst the crowd was excited and expecting. The normally raucaus Norco crown has been relatively subdued throughout the pre-season. Tonights energy reminded me more of the past three years.
Offensively this was probably the most solid game of the season Cougars. However, there was still some sloppy play and needless mistakes. The defense was very solid again tonight only allowing one score. Santiago’s second score was on a fumble recovery picked up and ran in for a TD.
The Norco defense started the game with great intensity and knocked Santiago backward on every play to force the Sharks to punt from deep in thier own territory. The ensuing Norco drive was very balanced and very powerful. The running game was established on the first few plays with solid runs from Nakamoto, Foley and Lopez. Norco’s line moved the team methodically down the field and the drive was capped off by a TD pass to Justing McGwirt. Norco missed the two point conversion. Norco lead early 6-0.
On the ensuing drive by Santiago the Sharks opened up the offense and threw some nice quick passes to spread out the defense and also had some nice runs up the middle and even kicked a couple outside. Santiago ended up answering Norco’s drive with a touchdown scoring drive of their own. After the extra point Santiago takes a 7-6 lead.
Norco begins their next drive and move the ball relatively easy for a quick first down. However, this drive began to fizzle somewhat. After the Jumbo package converted a 4th down play in Norco’s own territory for another first; Norco ended up punting three plays later after a false start and holding penalty. More mistakes costing the Cougars.
After the defense held Santiago and forced another punt, Norco ended the first half by taking some shots at the end zone on passing plays. Two of the passes had open receivers although the balls were thrown just out of their reach.
Norco started the second half with the ball and were methodically and powerfully moving the ball down the field. After a 65 yard Nakamoto TD run was called back for holding (legitimate holding call), the drive would end on a Nakamoto fumble. Santiago picked the fumble up and ran it for a TD.
After a great Jordan Campbell kick off return the Cougars started their next drive right near the 50 yard line. Norco continued to overpower the Shark defense and took the ball down for a TD. The drive was capped by a nice two point conversion pass play from Foley to Campbell.
Norco’s defense made it pretty clear that Santiago would have to step it up big time if they planned on getting back in the end zone. The d-line and d-ends had pressure on Kruse the entire night. They recorded some great sacks and stops in Santiago’s own backfield. Jordan Campbell was great again tonight as were his fellow linebackers Damion Whitington and Dallas Kelly. I also noticed some nice defensive play from offensive convert Josh Adams. The Santiago drive would end on a Kruse fumble forced by the defensive pressure.
Norco once again began to move the ball nicely down the field. However, Nakamoto fumbled once again killing a nice drive. Nakamoto has been very good at protecting the ball this season. The fumbles were un-characteristic. Nonetheless, he ran the ball very well tonight with a very respectable 174 yards on 32 carries.
After Norco stopped Santiago once again, Norco took the ball over after a punt on thier own 38 yard line. Norco continued to move the ball toward the end zone, however, had to convert two fourth down plays before scoring on a Nakamoto TD run. Jordan Campbell powered a two point conversion run into the end zone to give the Cougars a 22-14 lead.
Santiago would end the game much like Norco ended the first half taking some deep shots at the end zone. One play nearly was caught for a TD, but the Norco defender provided just enough disruption for the ball to be droppped. The tape showed that despite blowing the coverage somewhat, Evan Ruiz did provide a pop after the ball was in the receivers grasp and he did drop it after going through his hands.
All in all Santiago played very hard and kept this game close despite mustering less than 100 yards of total offense. With Santiago’s tough play combined with Norco’s mistakes the score was only 22-14. The score could have easily been 28-6 or even 35-6.
Norco did play better and will have to keep improving to get past a very tough Corona team and will have to be close to perfect to have any chance against Centennial.