NEO rolls away from Ellsworth
September 8, 2012
Sophomore tailback Gerald Howse rushed for 120 yards and scored on runs of 4 and 1 yards to lead the Northeastern A&M Golden Norsemen to a 48-19 rout over Ellsworth (Iowa) Community College Saturday night at Robertson Field.
While winning their first two games both years under the guidance of Dale Patterson, the Norsemen ran their overall record to 11-1 against the Panthers.
First-year head John Gooch has yet to win a game in the first two for the Panthers.
NEO opens play in the Southwest Junior College Football Conference Saturday with a long trip to Brenham, Texas, and a 7 p.m. clash with the Blinn College Buccaneers. Blinn hosted Southeast Prep College Saturday night.
Howse (6-2, 200 from Murfreesboro, Tenn.) carried the ball three times for 28 yards as the Norsemen scored on their first possession.
Sophomore quarterback Clayton Mitchem concluded the 65-yard, five-play drive with a 14-yard touchdown run with 13:18 left in the first quarter.
Freshman placekicker Kevin King displayed a marked improvement after going two-for-five in extra point his first college game. King (5-10, 165 from Jenks) added the PAT for a 7-0 Norse lead.
A 37-yard punt return by freshman tailback Casey Curtis set up NEO’s next scoring opportunity. After their 38-yard drive stalled, King came on to kick a 31-yard field goal with 7:48 remaining in the first quarter for a 10-0 Golden Norse lead.
Taking to the air on their next possession, the Panthers hit three passes for 72 yards before freshman quarterback Jordan Doyle scored on a six-yard run. Alex Bainter’s point-after with 5:38 showing on the clock created a 10-7 deficit for Ellsworth.
Mitchem electrified the partisan crowd with a nifty 50-yard touchdown pass to veteran wide out Michael Thompson less than a minute later. King’s extra point with 4:33 left in the first quarter gave NEO a 17-7 margin.
Howse (6-2, 200 from Murfreesboro, Tenn.) carried the ball three times for 28 yards as the Norsemen scored on their first possession.
Sophomore quarterback Clayton Mitchem concluded the 65-yard, five-play drive with a 14-yard touchdown run with 13:18 left in the first quarter.
Freshman placekicker Kevin King displayed a marked improvement after going two-for-five in extra point his first college game. King (5-10, 165 from Jenks) added the PAT for a 7-0 Norse lead.
A 37-yard punt return by freshman tailback Casey Curtis set up NEO’s next scoring opportunity. After their 38-yard drive stalled, King came on to kick a 31-yard field goal with 7:48 remaining in the first quarter for a 10-0 Golden Norse lead.
Taking to the air on their next possession, the Panthers hit three passes for 72 yards before freshman quarterback Jordan Doyle scored on a 6-yard run. Alex Bainter’s point-after with 5:38 showing on the clock created a 10-7 deficit for Ellsworth.
Mitchem electrified the partisan crowd with a nifty 50-yard touchdown pass to veteran wide out Michael Thompson less than a minute later. King’s extra point with 4:33 left in the first quarter gave NEO a 17-7 margin.
Midway through the second quarter, Howse scored on a 4-yard run after a spectacular 87-yard interception return by NEO cornerback Devron Moore gave the Norse the ball at the Ellsworth 15-yard line.
The extra point by King gave the Norse a 24-7 cushion with 8:07 before halftime.
A 33-yard punt return by Ellsworth tailback J.T. Tolbert allowed the Panthers to have a scoring chance at NEO's 46-yard line.
De'Andre Johnson out-distanced the NEO defense for a 29-yard TD run with 2:53 until intermission. Doyle missed the two-point conversion pass as the Panthers trailed 24-13 at half.
NEO's defense gave the offense perfect field position after an 80-yard interception return by safety Keishaun Richardson.
Howse ended the 15-yard drive with a 1-yard TD plunge at the 6:52 juncture in the third quarter. King hit the point-after for a 31-13 cushion.
Two minutes later, King returned to the playing field to kick a 40-yard field goal as the Norse carried a 34-13 advantage to the fourth quarter.
Concluding a 65-yard, nine-play drive, the Panthers scored as Doyle hit wide out Amari Williams for a 3-yard touchdown pass on a fourth-and-goal call. Bainter missed the PAT.
Mitchem scored on a nine-yard run and freshman quarterback Kason Key hit freshman wide out Sam Shepard on a 7-yard TD pass to conclude the scoring for the Golden Norsemen.
