Varsity-Eagles football faced their highest-ranked opponent yet in the Bayard Rustin Golden Knights last Friday, Sept. 12. The 33-12 loss brought the Eagles’ record to 1-3.
The Eagles didn’t have the best start after the Golden Knights returned the opening kickoff to their 40. The Golden Knights were unfortunately able to take the ball down to the endzone, snatching the lead before spectators could even find a spot in the stands. The Knights converted the extra point, bringing their lead to 7-0 and kicking off.
With the Golden Knights scoring in under a minute, the Eagles began their opening drive already in a predicament. They returned the kickoff for 28 yards, but a flag was called on a catch that could’ve gained major yardage, and Eagles’ Quarterback Gregory Thompson was picked off on the Eagles’ 43. The Golden Knights quickly worked the ball up and scored again, quickly bringing the score to 13-0.
The Golden Knights then missed the 1-point conversion with 7:46 remaining. They kicked off and the Eagles brought it to their 28. Thompson threw a dart to Wide-Receiver AJ Caranrd to bring the Eagles into midfield, but the Eagles were picked off again, leading to another touchdown and 1-point conversion for the Golden Knights to bring the score to 20-0.
The Eagles muffed the kickoff and the Golden Knights recovered the ball on the Eagles’ 15 with 4:22 remaining. Thankfully, Eagles Cornerback, Zion Gardner, intercepted the ball in the endzone and took it to the Eagles’ 11, preventing a further gap in scoring. Though they fought to keep the drive alive, the Eagles were brought to a 4th down and punted with 1:19 remaining. The Knights brought the ball to the Eagles’ 32 and drained the rest of the 1st quarter.
Heading into the 2nd, the Golden Knights brought the ball upfield and handed it off for a touchdown, and added another 1-point conversion to inflate the lead to 27-0. When the Eagles were only able to return the ball to their own 28, it seemed like it would be another non-scoring drive for the Eagles, but turned into a coast-to-coast touchdown when Thompson found Wide Receiver Joseph Melonson to put puts on the board for the first time in the game.
The Eagles missed the 1-point conversion, leaving the score 27-6. The Eagles would kick off but quickly force the Knights to punt, but the Knights forced the Eagles to kick the ball back.
A sack from Eagles Defensive End Isaiah Jackson brought them to 4th and 20 after multiple slip-ups from the Golden Knights, forcing them to punt with 1:08 left in the half. However, on the next drive, the Eagles turned the ball over on 4th down, and the Golden Knights took a field goal, but missed, ending the first half 27-6.
Down 21, the Eagles still prevented the Golden Knights’ offense from getting any more breakthroughs. Though a comeback seemed impossible, the Eagles refused to go down quietly.
The Eagles again worked their way, and Wide Receiver, Nasir Minor, gained crucial yardage. Thompson found Melonson again to get their second touchdown of the night but failed to execute the 2-point conversion and left the score 27-12.
The Eagles kicked to the Golden Knights, but the Golden Knights fought to keep the drive alive, and by the time the Eagles had brought them to a 4th down, time had run out in the 3rd quarter.
Now in the 4th and still down by 15, time was running out for the Eagles. The Golden Knights punted the ball out of bounds to the Eagles’ 19, but forced the Eagles to a 4th down. The Eagles kicked to midfield, and the Golden Knights worked the ball up and into the endzone. The Golden Knights missed the 1-point conversion, but still held a 33-12 lead.
With only 5:40 left in the game and down by 21, it was impossible for the Eagles to secure a comeback, but they kept pushing forward nonetheless. The Eagles returned the kickoff for 20 yards, but unfortunately, Minor and Melonson would both take hard hits. This resulted in the two being taken out for the remainder of the game. The Eagles were shortly forced into 4th down and had a turnover on downs. The Golden Knights ran down the clock and ended the game 33-12 in a win for the Knights.
Even with the loss, the Eagles showed fighting spirit, refusing to go down even when the game seemed like a lost cause. With another tough game against the Spring-Ford Rams on the horizon, the Norristown Eagles can’t rest just yet.
