This past Friday, the Norristown Eagles faced their long-time rival, the Methacton Warriors. The moment the Eagles walked into Methacton’s homecoming game, the atmosphere was tense. Both teams were on losing streaks, with the Warriors suffering back-to-back losses and the Eagles having lost their past four games.
The Eagles also haven’t picked up a win against the Warriors since the 2019-2020 football season. The Eagles were 0-2 in the Pioneer-Liberty conference as well and were ranked lower than the Warriors. With this in mind, the odds seemed to be stacked against the Eagles long before kickoff.
Unexpectedly, the game was one of the most evenly matched in the entire season, and the game was a hard battle for both teams, especially throughout the first three quarters.
The game went scoreless in the first quarter, but both teams got within 15 in the first quarter, with both failing to score. The Eagles got within 8, but were forced into 4th down, went for it, but had a turnover on downs. The Warriors worked their way within 15, late in the 1st, but safety Giovanni Allison picked the ball off to prevent the Warriors from scoring.
Even with the interception, the Eagles were still too far downfield to do anything. They were forced into 4th down, but the punt kept the Warriors in field-goal range, and they went for it. The Warriors scored a field goal to put the first points on the board and go up 3-0. The Eagles would work their way up again, but fumbled on the outskirts of the endzone, and the Warriors recovered it.
The Warriors worked the ball upfield, but punted after being forced into 4th down. Than, the ball was spotted at the Eagles 14. A pass to running back Joseph Goodson brought it to the Eagles 40, followed by another pass to wide receiver Joseph Melonson to bring it all the way down to the Warriors 14. Eventually, quarterback Gregory Thompson found Joseph Melonson again for a 12-yard receiving touchdown and brought the score to 6-3.
The Eagles failed the 2-point conversion, and the quarter would end shortly after. The Eagles would get the halftime kickoff, got it within the 10-yard, but had another turnover on downs after going for it on 4th and goal. Fortunately, the Eagles capitalized on the Warriors’ field position and forced them into 4th down. The Warriors punt was blocked, and the Eagles scored their first safety to make the score 8-3.
Shortly after, the Warriors worked the ball up-field and scored another field goal to shorten the Eagles’ lead, 8-6. Eventually, the 3rd quarter ended. Headed into the 4th quarter, all the Eagles had to do was keep shutting down the Warriors’ offense, and they would achieve the second win of the season.
The 4th quarter was opened with back-and-forth punts, but the Warriors muffed a punt by the Eagles, and the Warriors recovered it on their own 4th. Soon after, they fumbled, and it was recovered by the Eagles, who ran it in for another touchdown, bringing the score to 14-6. They failed the 2-point conversion again, but after the kickoff, they took the Warriors to 4th and 28. With this, the Eagles scored another safety, stretching the lead to 16-6.
In the final minutes, the Eagles worked the ball up-field once again. Though the ball was intercepted within ten, the Eagles once again used the Warriors’ horrible field position and scored another safety. The Eagles would run the clock out, ending the game 18-6.
With this game, the Eagles were able to snap their losing streak on the season and against Methacton, beat the odds, and spoil Methacton’s homecoming game. The Eagles’ defense’s insane 4th quarter performance was one of, if not the best showing they’ve had. They showed up in the clutch with a fumble recovery leading to a touchdown and two safeties to ice the game, and prevented the Warriors from even crossing midfield in the 4th.
This win brings the Eagles’ record to 2-5 and gives them their first conference win of the season. Hopes of a winning streak are finally possible, and the two remaining games against Perkiomen Valley and Boyertown will hopefully be those wins. Norristown’s own homecoming game is also on the horizon, being the final game of the season against Boyertown.
