NORCO – The chemistry between Kyle Crum and Grant Gray is special.
The Norco quarterback and receiver combined for two touchdowns in the third quarter as the Cougars toppled Santa Margarita, 40-22, in an electric nonleague football matchup on Thursday night.
“We knew with our chemistry that we’d have the better connection in the second half, so we really keyed on those 1-on-1 opportunities,” Gray said.
Gray had 10 receptions for 130 yards as Norco (2-0 overall) totaled more than 480 yards on offense to win its seventh consecutive game of 2021.
“We stuck to our guns with our play calling, and we just got after it,” Norco coach Chuck Chastian said. “First half we kind of sputtered but second half I liked our tempo.”
Jaxon Potter was 19 of 39 for 247 yards for Santa Margarita (1-1 overall), which led 16-13 at halftime but was stopped on four of its five second-half possessions.
“The biggest issue for us is that Norco played really well in the second half and exploited some mismatches that hurt us,” Santa Margarita coach Anthony Rouzier said.
Santa Margarita meant business from its first possession – a 12-play, 65-yard drive that ended with a 17-yard pass from Potter to Kyle Brody.
Norco was up for the challenge and Crum went to Gray for 13 yards on first down before handing it to Jaydn Ott, first for a 12-yard gain and then a 39-yard touchdown run to tie the game.
The Cougars took advantage of some early misfires from Potter, and grabbed the lead when Crum hit Elijah Rodriguez over the middle for a 78-yard score with 4 seconds left in the first quarter.
Santa Margarita’s defense produced some stops, and two Eagles kickers combined to make field goals of 41, 45 and 33 yards, respectively, in the second quarter to help retake the lead.
On the opening drive of the second half, Crum hit Gray for 39 yards to cross midfield before finishing the drive with 19-yard connection to Gray for a 20-16 lead.
Santa Margarita went 3-and-out on its next possession and Norco took over near midfield. Crum then led the Cougars on an 11-play drive that culminated in a 15-yard touchdown pass to Gray and a 27-16 lead.
Ott added a 31-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. He finished with 113 yards on 16 carries.
Potter found Syncere Brackett (six catches) for a late touchdown, but the Eagles gained just 11 rushing yards in the second half.
This post first appeared on ocregister.com
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