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LIVE UPdates - Churchland (0-4) at Norcom (4-0)

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Greetings from Joe Langston Stadium in Porstmouth for the Fish Bowl as the Norcom Greyhounds with an undefeated record of 4-0 play host to the visiting Churchland Truckers, who are seeking their first win of the Dontrell Leonard era.

Follow updates and observations, many of which will come from my Twitter feed...
 




Get to know the name CaSaan Dixon. He's a 2019 prospect who affects the game significantly in all three phases, has an offer from NC State and interest from a host of others including Michigan State. In fact, before the game, Greyhounds Head Coach Larry Archie told me that he recently caught the eye of Notre Dame.

Dixon zigged and zagged his way to the end zone on a very impressive play that will run back nicely on video for whoever was able to capture it...

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Norcom LB Allen Boykins and ATH CaSaan Dixon have imposed their will and the Greyhounds are off to their best start offensively of the season. Their defense carried them to a 4-0 start, but they're one touchdown away from getting to 20 points in a game for the first time this season.
 


Another highlight-reel play for the Greyhounds. First it was Dixon. Now Greene. Norcom has its season-high points - surpassing the 18 from the opener against Hopewell - and we've still got 34 minutes to play...
 


Norcom has out-gained Churchland 174-15 thus far. Greyhounds are putting together their first most complete half - and game - of the season to date. Each of their previous four wins were by six points or less. Doesn't look like that will be the case today. Might be headed for a running clock in the second half.
 


Boykins isn't alone, but he's the tone setter on defense for the Greyhounds. Would be such a nice pickup for an FCS program. Similar in some ways with his hustle and tenacity to Diamonte Tucker-Dorsey from Lake Taylor last year who is now at James Madison.

Antonio Hines on the d-line also gets great penetration into the backfield. Senior DT Ashra Bowden just had a loud hit, too. They'll count on defenders like Bowden even more with talented junior LB Taurus Jones, one of the key cogs on that side of the ball, now out for the season due to a torn ACL. Jones suffered that injury in the win over Lafayette and Coach Archie confirmed that they found out this week he's unfortunately out for the remainder of 2017. We wish him a speedy recovery.
 
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For Norcom at the break - some notable numbers...

Jacoby Smith 3-5 for 122 yards, TD pass
CaSaan Dixon 2Rec. 86Yds. TD
Allen Boykins with 8 tackles (5 solo)

Churchland's three completions have gone backwards for minus 10 yards

The bright spot for the Truckers has been Kenny Gallop, who has rushed for a hard 28 yards on 8 carries, plus is going both ways and is a key figure on a defense that has kept them in games until today.
 
Norcom was penalized twice before the second half even began for not coming out to the field in time for the third quarter. Doesn't hurt them in a game where they lead 27-0, but it would in a much tighter affair for sure.





Bell is one of about four or five capable ball carriers for the Greyhounds, starting to really find their groove offensively.
 
How did they apply/enforce the two penalties for coming out late from halftime.

Did Norcom bring their band and perform at halftime? The Marching Greyhounds would make John Philip Sousa roll over in his grave, but they put on one heck of a show.
 
How did they apply/enforce the two penalties for coming out late from halftime.

Did Norcom bring their band and perform at halftime? The Marching Greyhounds would make John Philip Sousa roll over in his grave, but they put on one heck of a show.

Basically, Norcom's coaches - from what I was told in the box - thought half-time was longer with the band performing, but the band actually performed afterwards. So the officials and Churchland waited for them to come out with 2 minutes shown on the clock and they didn't... flagged them once, went to get them, still didn't come right away, got flagged 5 yards again... they were out there then. Grand scheme of things, it didn't matter. But in the future, they'll want to have better communication / clarification so it doesn't cost them.

Aside from that snafu and a few penalties, Norcom looked very solid and like a team that will make noise in the playoffs in Class 3 as it figures to be between them and Phoebus for the #1 seed in Region A.

Band does put on a great show. The fish that was provided at game's end was also greatly appreciated!!
 
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