NORTON: Mogadore’s offense scored early and often in its 42-14 win at Norton on Friday night, and the defense made the Panthers’ night difficult, but it was the circumstances of the win that mattered to Wildcats coach Matt Adorni.
Mogadore (3-0) graduated 17 players from its state runner-up team from last season, three of whom are playing collegiate football this fall. Although the Wildcats played well in their first two games of the season, the Wildcats’ 42 points is their highest single-game total yet, and the defense managed to hold the Panthers to just two scores.
Adorni admits his young team has played hard this season, but its tempo and energy seemed at its highest against the Panthers (1-2).
“We knew we were going to have to mix it up maybe more than we did in the last two [games] … We were pretty vanilla the last few weeks,” Adorni said. “It was good that we could get a big win, but also look at a lot of different guys because we’re still learning about the guys that we have. You can practice all you want, but you can only learn on Friday nights.”
The Wildcats capitalized on plenty of the Panthers’ early mistakes. After nearly intercepting a pass thrown by Norton’s sophomore quarterback Nate Dobben, the Wildcats scored on their first drive, capped by an 8-yard touchdown run by senior Cade Ambrose. A 27-yard pass from senior quarterback Kole Jaber to senior receiver Jarad Dunn highlighted that possession.
The Wildcats didn’t score on their next drive but pinned the Panthers to their own 2-yard line, then nearly blocked the ensuing Norton punt three downs later. Jaber and Dunn connected for a 24-yard touchdown just before the first quarter expired.
The Wildcats did block the Panthers’ first punt in the second quarter and started at Norton’s 34-yard line.
Sophomore running back Armondo Chesley added an 11-yard score and Jaber connected with senior receiver Justice Ramirez late in the quarter for a 25-yard touchdown.
Wildcats senior linebacker Austin Williams returned an interception to the Panthers’ 1-yard line on Norton’s next possession, then came out on offense and scored on a handoff.
The Wildcats finished the first half ahead 35-6.
Had it not been for a touchdown pass from Dobben to sophomore tight end Zane Brady with eight seconds left in the half, the second half would have started with a running clock.
“We knew with the way they were playing their defense, we could open them up with some long passes,” Adorni said. “It was nice to see a couple different guys catch the football for us. Kole had really an outstanding night.”
Chesley scored on a 5-yard run to start the scoring in the second half, and with 11:51 remaining in the game, Dobben hit senior tailback Nick Farmer across the middle for a 27-yard touchdown. The Panthers then converted a two-point conversion with a pass to junior receiver Austin Booth.
The Panthers’ pass defense has struggled this season. In two previous games, opposing quarterbacks tossed seven touchdowns and 530 yards. Jaber finished with 155 yards passing and two touchdowns.
The Wildcats tallied 175 yards rushing, most of which came in the second half after their lead was insurmountable.
“In the past couple years, [Norton coach John Tanksley] has made it tough sledding for us to run,” Adorni said. “I told the assistant coaches, ‘we’re going to have to throw to win tonight.’”
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