Close call swings Woodland Hills’ way to sink Norwin

By: Ted Sarneso
Friday, September 22, 2023 | 11:28 PM

On paper, the nonconference game between Norwin and Woodland Hills seemed like an even matchup.

Both teams came into Friday’s game with the same records (2-2, 1-0) and nearly identical points for and points against numbers.

The numbers were a harbinger as the Wolverines (3-2, 1-0) held on for a 30-23 win over the Knights (2-3, 1-0).

With 2:32 left to go in the game, the Knights began the drive at their own 35-yard line. After a 14 -yard pass to junior Jackson Huss and 21 yards on the ground from Huss the Knights faced a 4^th and 1.

Tristyn Tavares found senior receiver Jackson Pons for a 14-yard catch to extend the drive. Norwin then took a shot at the end zone and drew a pass interference call to put the ball at the eight-yard line of the Wolverines.

Luke Denny then ran the ball and appeared to have crossed the plane of the end zone for a touchdown, but the refs ruled it a fumble.

“He crossed the plane in my mind,” said Pons.

“All I was looking for was the ref’s hand to signal a fourth down,” said Woodland Hills coach Brian Tarrant. “But I give our guys credit. They stood tight there, and we got off the field.”

Norwin opened the scoring early with a 57-yard pass from Tavares to Luke Denny on their opening drive.

Woodland Hills answered with a nine-play drive that closed with a 26-yard field goal.

The Wolverines’ Zykir Moore scored on a 3-yard run on the next possession to give the Wolverines the lead early in the second.

“I thought they went away from their run game. I don’t know why,” said Tarrant. “We were able to get to our gaps. Maybe that deterred them a little bit.”

After Woodland Hills could do nothing on its next drive, the Knights took the ball and were driving when Tavares threw his first interception of the night.

The Wolverines countered with a seven-play drive that culminated with a 30-yard field goal.

Wolverines looked like they might sustain a drive on their next possession and tack on more points after a 31-yard completion from senior QB Cam Walter to junior Niko Andrews, but Walter took an eight-yard sack and Woodand Hills took a six-point lead into half.

Norwin could not find any success in moving either the offensive or defensive lines of the Wolverines as the Knights mustered only nine yards in the first half and the Wolverines totaled 119.

After both teams punted to begin the second half, Woodland Hills sophomore running back Zykir Moore found holes on the subsequent drive with back-to-back runs of 28 and 20 yards to get the Wolverines into the red zone where the drive ended with a 38-yard field goal.

Then, Norwin began to sling the ball around the field as Tavares and Denny connected again for a 76 -yard touchdown. The Knights tried to pull within eight with a two-point try but were unsuccessful.

“Running game wasn’t as strong we wanted in the first half,” said Norwin receiver Jackson Pons. “Me and Denny are probably the best receiver duo in 5A. If we can get the run game going, we can be dangerous.”

“They did a great job finding their slot guys in the middle,” said Tarrant. “They played a good game of chess with us.”

Later, after another empty possession for Norwin, Wolverines sophomore QB Cam Walter found junior receiver Amere Brown over the middle for a 70-yard touchdown.

The Knights held Woodland Hills to a punt and then Tavares and Denny combined for another big pass play, this time for 43 yards. After Tavares ran for a first down to the two, he punched it in to make it 23-20 Wolverines.

Then the Knights surprised everyone in the Wolvarena with an onside kick recovered by Norwin kicker Evan Pfeifer which gave the Knights great field position and they capitalized with a 35-yard field goal by Pfeifer to tie the game up with 6:45 left to go in the game.

Norwin was drawn offsides to extend the Wolverines next drive and it proved to be costly as Walter found sophomore receiver Scoop Smith for a seven-yard touchdown.

Woodland Hills is at 5A Northeast Conference for Shaler on 9/30 and Norwin will play host to 5A Big East Conference rival Penn-Trafford next Friday.

Tags: Norwin, Woodland Hills