NORTON — Don’t tell the Norton football team it isn’t a No. 1 seed.
The fifth-seeded Panthers welcomed 12th-seeded Edgewood to Don Cadis Stadium and sent the Warriors home with a 63-13 loss.
Up next, is a regional quarterfinal with fourth-seeded Beloit West Branch (9-1) for Norton (10-1) in Division IV, Region 13.
Not bad for a team who’s only loss came on a forfeit thanks to the OHSAA. It knocked the Panthers from the top seed and boy, these guys didn’t forget.
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Jason Beverly (14 carries, 186 yards, four TDs) led Norton’s rushing attack but he had help.
Markus Brown (13 carries, 205 yards, two TDs) torched Edgewood (6-5) on the round as did Trey Kersten (five carries, 98 yards, TD).
Kersten was 4-of-8 passing for 90 yards and threw two touchdowns to Buddy Willig (four catches, 88 yards).
Follow along here for in-game updates, highlights and analysis:
Edgewood scores midway through the fourth quarter
Devon Sanchez caught a 50-yard touchdown from JJ DuFour. It’s 63-13 Norton with 6:25 left.
Edgewood turns Norton over to end the third quarter
The Warriors take over on their own 20-yard line. It’s 63-7 to start the final quarter.
One play, one score for Norton against Edgewood
Jason Beverly scored his fourth touchdown. This time from 35 yards out. It’s 63-7 with 9:09 left. Beverly has 14 carries for 186 yards.
Halftime statistics from Norton-Edgewood
The Panthers lead 56-7 and are running all over the Warriors.
Individual leaders
Edgewood: JR Crooks three carries, 14 yards; JJ Dufour 4-13-41-0; six carries, 7 yards, TD; Devon Sanchez three catches, 34 yards
Norton: Markus Brown 15 carries, 205 yards, 2 TDS; Jason Beverly 13 carries, 151 yards, 3 TDs; Trey Kersten 4-8-90-0; five carries, 98 yards, TD
Norton scores on the ground again against Edgewood
Jason Beverly scored his third touchdown of the game. He’s got 149 yards on 12 carries and has scored three touchdowns. It’s 49-7 Norton with 2:06 left in the second quarter.
Norton scores again, and again, and again
Jason Beverly (nine carries, 104 yards, 2 TDs) scores from 17 yards out. It’s 42-7 with 5:30 left in the first half.
Edgewood answers Norton score
The Warriors went 66 yards on four plays. JJ Dufour went in from 10 yards out. It’s 35-7 with 6:54 left before the break.
Buddy ball hits again for Norton Panthers
The Panthers went 87 yards on 10 plays and took 3:57 off the clock. Buddy Willig (four catches, 88 yards, 2 TDs) scored on a 35-yard pass from Trey Kersten. It’s 35-0 Norton with 8:03 left in the second quarter.
Norton has a four-score advantage going into the second quarter
The Panthers also hold a 226-5 edge in offensive yards. It’s 28-0 Norton after the first quarter.
Here we go again, Norton scores against Edgewood
Trey Kersten scored on the first play from scrimmage after another three-and-out. This time he went in from 65 yards out. It’s 28-0 Norton with 2:52 left in the first quarter.
Third verse, same as the first for Norton against Edgewood
Norton forced another three-and-out and scored again. This time it was a 36-yard touchdown pass from Trey Kersten to Buddy Willig. It’s 21-0 Norton with 2:21 left in the first quarter.
Jason Beverly races to the end zone for Norton
Norton forced a three-and-out and then marched straight down the field. The Panthers went 61 yards on four plays. Jason Beverly went in from 47 yards. It’s 14-0 Norton with 6:31 left in the first quarter.
Norton opens with a touchdown against Edgewood
The Panthers drove 59 yards on 10 plays and Markus Brown scored on a 1-yard run. Norton went to the ground seven times for 49 yards on the drive. It’s 7-0 Panthers with 8:58 left in the first quarter.
Projected starters for the Norton Panthers
Projected starters for the Edgewood Warriors
OHSAA playoff history for Norton, Edgewood football
This is the fifth playoff appearance for the Warriors. This is the seventh playoff appearance and sixth consecutive for the Panthers. … Norton won the Metro Athletic Conference. Edgewood finished third in the Chagrin Valley Conference Metro Division.
Who to watch for the Edgewood Warriors
JJ Dufour (154-of-210 passing, 2,082 yards, 28 TDs, six interceptions; 81 carries, 387 yards, four TDs) leads Edgewood. He’s got burners in Jaiven Pope (42 catches, 730 yards, nine TDs; 117 carries, 727 yards, eight TDs), Devon Sanchez (40 catches, 628 yards, eight TDs) and Riley Baldwin (23 catches, 270 yards, five TDs). … The Warriors average 207.0 yards passing and 346.7 yards total offense.
Who to watch for the Norton Panthers
Jason Beverly (85 carries, 746 yards, 13 TDs) heads the rushing attack. … Trey Kersten (83-of-125 passing, 1,544 yards passing, 27 TDs, three interceptions) has primary receivers in Willig and Isaac Hunter (18 receptions, 336 yards, seven TDs). … Markus Brown (83 tackles, seven for loss, two sacks, forced fumble, fumble recovery), Willig (49 tackles, eight for loss, sack, interception, forced fumble, fumble recovery), Beverly (45 tackles, seven for loss, four sacks, interception, two fumble recoveries, defensive TDs) and Jacob Ford (36 tackles, 12 for loss, six sacks, interception, forced fumble, fumble recovery) are the names to watch on defense for Norton.
Norton football scores, schedule
Edgewood football scores, schedule
Contact Brad Bournival at bbournival@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @bbournival
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: OHSAA football playoff scores, Norton vs. Ashtabula Edgewood recap, highlights
Reporting by Brad Bournival, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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