Norsemen rest case against overmatched Pack

By ECS Staff
Updated: October 3, 2015

By Gene Yale
© East County Sports.com

EL CAJON (10-3-15) — Valhalla’s Law Firm Defense is starting to look like the real deal.

For the third game in a row, the boys in Orange held their opponent to less than 100 yards total offense when West Hills came to visit Friday evening (Oct. 2). And, the Norsemen offensive line opened some big holes for running backs RASHAUN SHARPE (15 carries, 94 yards, 2 TDs) and JEROME JOHNSON (11 rushes, 70 yards, 2 TDs) as the Norsemen sacked the Pack 37-6.

Starting from their 20-yard line on the first possession of the contest, Valhalla senior quarterback PHILLIP NASEH (11-21-0, 116 yds, 1 TD) marched his troops smartly down the field, utilizing Sharpe’s quick bursts and Johnson’s wrecking ball running attack, mixed with some nifty pass-catch combinations. After Johnson bulled his way for an 8-yard gain to the Valhalla 31, Sharpe put it in hyper-drive up the middle for 12 yards to the Norsemen 43-yard line.

Two plays later, Naseh found junior wide receiver BRANDON FULLER open in the right flat for a 12-yard pickup to the Wolf Pack 42-yard line. On the next play, junior right tackle JACOB SMITH made a nice block to spring Sharpe loose for a 5-yard gain to the West Hills 37.

Naseh completed three passes in a row to advance to the 14-yard line and a first down. Sharpe broke loose for an 11-yard gain to the 3, and then danced into the end zone on the next play. Valhalla had the early lead, 6-0, with 8:13 left in the initial stanza.

Later in the first quarter, West Hills started to mount some offense.

Following a punt, the Wolf Pack started at their 45-yard line. Junior running back JOVAN BEA broke free for a 7-yard pickup to the Valhalla 48. A few plays later, Valhalla managed to put a halt to the drive at the Norsemen 29-yard line, but a face mask penalty gave the visitors a first down at the Valhalla 14-yard line.

From there Valhalla’s pass rushers went to work. On first down, senior linebacker TREY SCHIMKE put huge pressure on West Hills’ senior quarterback SPENCER MOYER. The pass was nearly picked by senior defensive back DANTE CARNESSALE.

On the next two plays, senior defensive end DANIEL BENDER harassed Moyer, forcing two more incomplete passes, forcing West Hills to settle for a 31-yard field goal by senior C.J. ERWIN, narrowing the gap to 6-3, with 9:28 to play until halftime.

photo courtesy Don De Mars Photography

Valhalla responded with a field goal of its own by senior CONNOR CHAMBERLAIN, a 36-yarder, making it 9-3, with 5:41 remaining to play until intermission.

Erwin closed out the first half by kicking a 26-yard field goal, leaving Valhalla clinging to a 9-6 lead.

Valhalla steamrolled the Pack in the third quarter. Unable to move the ball on its opening drive, TYLER SEPULVEDA punted to JORDAN ELLIS at the Valhalla 43-yard line. Ellis sprinted 19 yards to the Wolf Pack 38-yard line. Five plays later, Johnson galloped into the end zone from 9 yards out; following Chamberlain’s PAT (4-5), the Norsemen led 16-6, at the 9:09 mark of the third quarter.

After another 3-and-out by West Hills, Valhalla (4-1) took over on the Pack’s 43-yard line. Four plays later, Naseh threw a dart to Fuller in the end zone for a 28-yard TD, upping the Norsemen’s lead to 23-6.

Things quickly went from bad to worse for the Wolf Pack. On its next two possessions, the “bad” was a fumble in the backfield that was recovered by Valhalla. After stopping the Norsemen offense, West Hills took over on downs at its 28-yard line.

Three plays later, it had to punt from its 18-yard line, when the “worse” occurred. Bender blocked the punt, setting up the Valhalla offense at the Pack’s 18. On second down, offensive lineman TYLER EASTLICK sprung Sharpe loose for a 12-yard TD run, putting the game out of reach, 30-6 with 3:42 left in the third quarter.

Late in the third period, LOGAN BAKER batted a pass — right to Schimke for the interception, deep in West Hills territory at the 28-yard line. Six plays later, Johnson lumbered 15 yards to pay dirt, making it 37-6 as the quarter came to a merciful end.

The defense lawyers were able to prevent West Hills from getting a first down in the third quarter. A running clock in the fourth quarter allowed the game to end. After five games, Valhalla’s opponents are averaging less than 118 yards of total offense per game.

West Hills finished with 96 yards on 54 plays.