Bears offense explodes in win over Knights
Loy Norrix's first visit to Dickinson Stadium an
unpleasant one
(St. Joseph)
– During the Bears last two games this season, the defense made sure
that whatever the St. Joe offense would score would hold up. The
points were hard to come by in wins over Harper Creek and Niles.
But the St. Joe offense scored 55 points in a 55-7 win over Kalamazoo
Loy Norrix
The Bears took the opening kickoff and went on a 10 play drive
that ended on a 10 yard touchdown run from Jeremy Rush and put the Bears ahead
7-0.
The Knights, who were making their first ever visit to Dickinson
Stadium, were forced to punt after three plays, gaining just 6 yards.
Another St. Joe drive ended with the Bears finding the endzone,
when Rush threw a perfect pass to Joel Bergman from 7 yards out giving St. Joe a
14-0 lead.
The Bear defense continued to keep the Norrix offense bottled up
into the second quarter, after Riley Johnson intercepted a pass for Norrix
quarterback Kane Cruz, the Bears had a short field to work with, starting at the
24 yard line of the visitors. Five plays later, Eddie Montgomery, who
missed the last two games to injury got back in the game and in the endzone on a
1 yard run.
With the Bears leading 21-0, St. Joe was in position to add
another touchdown, but Montgomery fumbled before crossing the goal line, the
ball was recovered in the endzone by the Knights, sending the ball back to the
20 after the touchback. Norrix got on the board on an 82 yard touchdown
pass from Cruz to Je'Vonte' Hughes, cutting the lead to 21-7
St. Joe responded on the next possession as Alex Rutherford
scored on a 2 yard run, extending the lead to 28-7 heading into the half.
Norrix came out of the locker room determined to get back into
the game, driving down to the Bears 6 yard line, but turned the ball over on
downs.
After both teams traded punts, the Bears needed only 20 seconds
to find the endzone again when Alex Rutherford ran for a 52 yard touchdown.
The Bears led 34-7 after the point after hit off the left upright.
St. Joe added another touchdown on the first play of the fourth
quarter as Eddie Montgomery scored his second touchdown of the game for a 41-7
St. Joe lead.
Rutherford would score again midway through the fourth quarter
to start the MHSAA mercy rule with the Bears leading 48-7.
Davonte Piggee would provide the final margin of victory, when
he ran for a 61 yard touchdown run on the only play of the drive.
In total, the Bears outgained the Knights 527-199 and 421-48 on
the ground. The Bears were an impressive 6 of 7 in the redzone and forced
3 Norrix turnovers.
St. Joe improves to 4-0 and hosts Twin Cities rival Benton
Harbor on Friday at Dickinson Stadium for Homecoming.
SCORING SUMMARY
Loy Norrix 0 7 0 0 – 7
St. Joseph 14 14 6 21 - 55
SJ - Jeremy Rush 10 yd run (Josh Akins kick)
SJ - Joel Bergman 7 yd pass from Jeremy Rush (Josh Akins kick),
SJ - Eddie Montgomery 1 yd run (Josh Akins kick)
LN - Je'Vonte Hughes 82 yd pass from Kane Cruz (Tyler McCrary kick)
SJ - Alex Rutherford 2 yd run (Josh Akins kick)
SJ - Alex Rutherford 52 yd run (Josh Akins kick failed)
SJ - E. Montgomery 5 yd run (Josh Akins kick)
SJ - Alex Rutherford 6 yd run (Josh Akins kick)
SJ - Davonte Piggee 61 yd run (Matt Phillips kick)
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