Another Mark Norris masterclass advances the Knights against Susan Moore
If Saturday's in Tuscaloosa belong to Alabama's star quarterback Ty Simpson, then it is without a doubt that Friday nights belong to Mark Norris. Week in and week out, the junior gunslinger continues to show that he is undoubtedly the engine behind the Knights' offense.
The night started on a surgical drive down the field, which was capped off with a seven-yard strike off the shoulder of Norris to Hinton Howell. It was at that point evident the Knights were going to do whatever they wanted to on offense. Susan Moore, despite what the scoreboard might indicate, put up a strong fight. They had a playmaker of their own under center in sophomore Samuel Garrison. He was about as big as any high school quarterback I've ever seen, and he wasn't afraid to use it. The big man was borderline impossible for any one Knight to bring him down. After a strong opening drive of their own, Garrison coughed up the ball in the red zone to give it back to Tuscaloosa Academy. Norris wasted no time moving his offense right down the field again and finished off a second consecutive touchdown drive with a 14-yard touchdown pass.
Garrison then put the team on his back and started driving once again. This time, he kept the ball away from the defense long enough to deliver a touchdown of his own in the form of a 30-yard laser over the middle of the field.
Despite the valiant effort from Garrison and his offense, it's Mark Norris' world, and we're all just living in it. On the first play of the drive, he delivered an absolute beauty of a ball to Jon Michael Little for a 77-yard touchdown strike.
After an extended stoppage of play for a player injury from Susan Moore, the Knights went to work before the half ended. Following yet another commanding drive, Norris threw his fourth passing score of the game to Beau Cochran out of the backfield. The halftime score was 28-8.
Following a turnover on downs from Susan Moore to begin the second half, Norris put his stamp on the game with a 73-yard breakaway touchdown, outrunning everyone on the field in the process. Susan Moore turned the ball over on downs one more time, and by the time the fourth quarter rolled around, the starting offense for the Knights was on the sideline with their helmets off.
The backup unit couldn't muster any points, so they punted on the Knights' first possession to start the fourth. The punt returner, however, coughed up the ball and put the Knights offense right back in business. They were able to find points in the form of a 25-yard field goal.
Susan Moore found a garbage-time touchdown late, but it was never enough. The Knights finished the game with a Beau Cochran interception and a 38-14 victory.