NORFOLK ACADEMY 48, CATHOLIC 6
NORFOLK --- With 48 unanswered points, the Norfolk Academy football team clinched the TCIS football championship convincingly, stifling visiting Catholic 48-6 on Thursday night at Wynne-Darden Stadium.
With the win, the Bulldogs clinched a football playoff berth in the upcoming Virginia Independent Schools Division I tournament. They will travel to face #1 Virginia Episcopal next weekend. VES earned the top spot with a 26-21 victory over Benedictine on Friday.
Currently, the Bulldogs sit at #4 in the seedings, and appear to be headed for an away matchup against the top-seeded Benedictine Cadets, ranked as high as #1 in some state football polls, ahead of defending state public school champions, such as Maury and Oscar Smith. A Saturday matchup between the Cadets and #2 Virginia Episcopal could rattle the VISAA standings if Benedictine loses.
Regardless, NA coach Steve Monninger, whose team finished the regular season with an 8-1 record, is ready to face whoever awaits.
“The Saturday game against the #1 and #2 will be the tell tale,” said Monninger, whose team missed out on the playoffs last season in spite of a 7-2 record. “But eight and one is extremely rare here,” he said, adding, “we’re not some private school football powerhouse. We do the best we can with what we have.”
On Thursday, Monninger had sophomore running back Courtland Simmons, who ran for over 120 yards in the first half as the hosts built a 41-6 cushion by intermission. He also had senior quarterback Davis Steadman, who threw for two touchdowns (to Gunner Zimmerman and Reed Fox), while running for another.
Said Steadman, “We are playing really good football in all phases right now.” He added, “I couldn’t feel any better going to battle with my brothers. We are a close team and we believe in each other and can’t wait for the challenge ahead.”
Parks Andrews scored the Bulldogs’ first touchdown. Andrews also looks forward to post-season competition this year, saying, “We have worked so hard. I am just excited and grateful.”
Sean Duffy’s two-yard plow completed the scoring. Catholic, who went winless at 0-10 last season, fell to 5-4 to finish their regular season.
Catholic (5-4) 6, 0, 0, 0 -- 6
N. Academy (8-1) 19, 22, 7, 0 -- 48
Norfolk Academy scoring
NA – Parks Andrews 5 run (kick failed)
NA – Courtland Simmons 35 run (run failed)
NA – Gunner Zimmerman 45 pass from Davis Steadman (Henry Chesson kick)
NA – Steadman 2 run (Chesson kick)
NA – Reed Fox 5 pass from Steadman (Chesson kick)
NA – Courtland Simmons 25 run (Andrews run)
NA – Sean Duffy 2 run (Chesson kick)
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