Norco Football

What a great season guys, you made your school, your town, your fans, the Mountain View League and the Inland Empire very proud this season. What other school in the Southern Section has thier town Mayor show up to the games?

You boys finished the season with a power ranking nearly 9 points higher than last season. Not bad, since every one said we were a one man team last season. You proved the neigh sayors wrong once again.

I know a lot of people like to point to our schedule and say we play weak teams, but let’s take a look. You guys played SEVEN teams that were either state ranked at the time you played them or at some time during the season. The teams you faced had a combined record of 103 wins and 57 losses. You also faced three teams that were undefeated with record of at least 9-0. Of your 14 games Calpreps had you guys figured to lose in 8 of those games. Not only did you prove your detractors wrong, you even proved the computers wrong.

You didn’t always play perfect football, but you always found a way to win. Loosing two games by a combined 3 points is nothing to hang your head about. The thought of being 4 points away from a shoe in D1 South Rep in the state bowl is also nothing to hang your head about.

You boys forged your way through new positions, injuries, unexpected personnel losses and 14 teams that were looking to take your heads off. Through all that you brought back a BACK TO BACK CIF Title for only the second time in school history. Also, you boys became the first ever Inland Division II Champions.

As we started the season, the big question was how would we replace Toby. It started out a little difficult, we were used to Toby left, followed by Toby right, followed by Toby up the middle. He was and is our local hero and we all got very used to it. As our offense got off a little slower than most years, it was our Defense that stepped up and kept us in games. Shutting teams down when we were having trouble scoring. Time after time you provided the opportunity for us win as we would eventually get something going offensively.

Just as our concern became the greatest due to injuries and other personnel losses on our defense, our offense clicked and went OFF. Now it was the offenses turn to carry the team and help counter our defense that was suddenly giving up more points. And what a way to finish off the season. Playing both great offense and great defense. You boys polished off back to back undefeated State Ranked teams. This all culminated yesterday with your best offensive and defensive showing of the year. You boys were completely dominating on both sides of the ball.

In reflection of yesterday’s game, I cannot even pick out an MVP. Everyone did thier jobs to perfection. The line lived up to it’s reputation; the running backs were fast, powerful and damaging to the opponent; the receivers made their blocks and what a great TD catch; the defensive line just as impressive and overpowering as our O-line; the linebackers and defensive backs were punishing runners, recievers and breaking up passes all day long. If someone wanted to know what Norco football is all about, I would sit them down and show them the game film from yesterday’s game. Boys that was Norco Football by definition and to perfection.

I usually find myself sitting on or near the 50 yard line and I am usually right in the thick of all the Norco crazies. I would like to finish with some of the most memorable quotes I heard in the stands this year.

“Krueger, don’t you know any other plays?”

“Gerhart, don’t you believe in saving your time outs?”

“What does Krueger have in that super tanker anyway?”

“You guys called a time out for that play?”

“Haven’t you ever heard of a pass?”

“Is Stillwell drinking from Krueger’s super tanker?”

“somebody hit a ref!”

“first and 20 again!!!”

“how many flags can we get in one game?”

“did you see what Garth just did to that guy? how did he even get up?”

“is that Tello still blocking after the whistle again?”

“dang that Lopez is a tough runner”

“didn’t someone call Nakamoto, Quasimoto?” “he showed them.”

“why dont we pass more?”

“did Jordan just knock another guys helmet right off his head?”

“get em Charlie!”

“Choo Choo!”

NORCO! NORCO! NORCO!

DEFENSE! DEFENSE! DEFENSE!

Go BEEF, Get em BEEF!!!

“look how big Tello is…DANG!”

“how tall is that Kyle Johnson?”

“Nak looked like Toby on that run.”

“how many long runs has Lopez gotten called back?”

“I love the way these boys play, I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

“the funny thing about the flags is we end up taking that many yards right back out of the other teams hide.”

My favorites were:

“A country boy can survive by Hank before the game”

“Ozzy singing Crazy Train before the game”

“and of course, Cowboys from Hell before the game.”

“BACK TO BACK!”

“the nah nah nah naw…good bye song”

and of course….WE ARE….NORCO!!!!!

Hands down the most annoying words heard by Norco fans this year were: JOE JOE, JOE JOE, JOE JOE…

Good luck to all you graduating seniors, we will keep an eye on you where ever you go…we love you.

All you underclassmen, work your butts off again this offseason and keep the tradition alive…

All you JAAF boys, welcome to the program…

Coaches, keep up the hard work and thank you for all the time and effort you put into these boys. You not only help them become better football players, but you help them become better men as well.