CHARLOTTESVILLE – Jalen Norton rushed for a season-high 180 yards on 21 carries, ran for two touchdowns and caught a TD pass as Hampton Roads Academy’s football team defeated St. Anne’s-Belfield 30-24 at Frank G. Addonizio Field on Friday night.
Norton, who had just one touchdown before the Navigators (3-4) met STAB (3-3), opened the game’s scoring by scampering 84 yards with 4:46 left in the first quarter. The Saints tied the game at 6-all when Chase Emmert threw the first of his TD passes, going 19 yards to Thomas Harry on the first play of the second stanza. Emmert also ran for 93 yards and a touchdown.
HRA quarterback Kahleef Jimmison capped a 51-yard march with a 1-yard plunge on HRA’s next drive for a 12-6 lead, but he was tackled in the end zone after a bad snap with 2:47 before halftime, making it 12-8.
On its first second-half possession, HRA drove to the STAB 8. From there, senior Lauren Shohan attempted and made the first field goal attempt of the year for the Navigators. But the 15-8 lead didn’t last long as the Saints used its passing game to penetrate deep into HRA territory. Emmert provided the final yard, and a 2-point conversion gave the Saints their only lead at 16-15.
The invaders didn’t complete a pass until 1:19 remained in the third quarter, when Jimmison hooked up for a 5-yard gain to Messiah Russell. Jimmison’s second completion went for 38 yards and a touchdown to Norton, giving the lead back to the ‘Gators, 22-16.
It was Norton again providing the spark, returning the only STAB punt of the day 52 yards to the 21. Sure enough, it was Norton who got the call and the TD from the 3.
The 30-16 edge was enough to keep the Saints at bay, although they did score again as Emmert threw his second TD toss.
The teams meet again Oct. 27 in Newport News. Both contests have been set as 8-on-8 affairs.
Submitted by Alan Hirsch
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