Undefeated Norton Too Much for Russell
The Russell High School football team traveled to undefeated Norton on Friday, October 11 and lost 42-22.
Norton (6-0 overall, 4-0 Mid-Continent League, 3-0 Class 2A District 7) scored the only touchdown of the first quarter on a three-yard run by senior quarterback Eli Jones. Jones' extra-point kick was good - as it would be five more times in the game - and the Bluejays led 7-0 after one period.
At the 9:30 mark in the second stanza, Russell (2-4 overall, 1-4 MCL, 0-2 Class 2A District 7) finished an eight-play, 54-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown run by junior wide receiver Walker Middleton. The two-point conversion was good and the Broncos claimed an 8-7 lead. However, with 5:31 remaining in the first half, Norton junior running back Tyler Backman ran 14 yards for a TD. And with just three seconds left in the second frame, Jones capped off a 10-play, 78-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown plunge to give the Bluejays a 21-8 lead at the break.
Backman scored two more rushing touchdowns in the third quarter for Norton - one from two yards out and the other from 68 yards out - and the Bluejays led 35-8 after three periods.
At the 7:41 mark in the final quarter, Russell senior quarterback Mason Rohr connected with Middleton on a 20-yard TD pass that finished an 11-play, 78-yard drive. The two-point conversion attempt was no good. With 4:19 remaining in the game, Norton senior running back Brennen Pfannenstiel scored on a five-yard touchdown run. The last score of the contest came with just 57 seconds left when Russell junior running back Wyatt Harmon rushed for a one-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion was good, but wasn't enough, as state ranked Norton won 42-22 to remain unbeaten.
Norton outgained the Broncos 418 total yards to 339. Russell finished with just 39 yards rushing and 300 yards passing. The Bluejays had 304 yards on the ground and 114 yards through the air.
Rohr finished with 300 yards passing on 18 completions and one score for Russell. Middleton caught eight passes for 159 yards and a score. Senior wide receiver Camden Backhus caught five passes for 110 yards.
For Norton, Backman finished with 189 yards rushing on 13 carries and three scores. Jones passed for 114 yards on 11 completions and rushed for 68 yards on 16 carries and two scores. Senior wide receiver Tyce Melvin caught six passes for 72 yards.
Norton also forced one Russell turnover on a lost fumble.
Next up, Russell returns home on Friday, October 18 for its final regular season home game and senior night against Minneapolis. Catch the game on KRSL 95.9 and KRSL.com with pregame coverage at 6:30 PM and kickoff at 7.