NORTON – Over the last three years the TMP-Marian Monarchs have been able to take advantage of other team’s mistakes and turn them into touchdowns on defense but Friday night the roles were reversed when the Norton Bluejays scored a defensive touchdown in the fourth quarter that proved to be the difference in a 20-14 win over TMP.
The Monarchs (3-4, 3-3 MCL) offense was locked in early, putting together a 10-play drive that took more than five minutes off the clock and resulted in a three-yard touchdown run for Kade Harris that put TMP up 7-0 after the Henry Speno extra point.
Freshman quarterback Carson Liles had a big 34-yard run that set up the early score.
TMP’s defense was able to hold Norton (5-2, 5-0 MCL) to a three-and-out the Monarchs next drive took up more than four and a half minutes but resulted in a missed field goal.
Norton was forced to punt on its second drive and had a turnover on downs on a third first-half drive.
TMP also stalled offensively with a punt and turnover on downs.
At the end of the first half Norton was driving when Speno picked off the Norton quarterback Eli Jones ending the Bluejays drive and securing a 7-0 TMP lead at halftime.
Norton opened the second half with the ball and drove down the field, thanks to four straight pass completions by Jones including the final one, a 16-yard pass to Rylan Wildeman but a failed two-point conversion made it 7-6 TMP.
Jones threw he second touchdown pass of the second half, to Todd Martin, from 16-yards out after a TMP fumble to give Norton the first lead early in the fourth quarter at 14-7 after the two-point conversion.
On the ensuing drive TMP got all the way to the Norton eight-yard line but on fourth down Liles was sacked and Mathew Fawcett returned the fumble 80-yards for the touchdown putting Norton up 20-7.
TMP had an answer though, it took them just two plays to drive 49 yards and Harris scored his second touchdown of the game giving him 40 career rushing touchdowns. With the extra point TMP trialed 20-13.
Landon Rozean had a 36-yard run that set up the touchdown.
TMP defense forced a three-and-out setting up the Monarchs at their own 40-yard line with four and a half minutes to play.
Norton committed a pair of roughing the passer penalties, one on fourth and long and one on third and long but TMP was unable to take advantage of the field position and turned it over on downs with 17 second left as Norton held on for the 20-14 win.
Harris finished with 124 yards rushing and Rozean added a career-high 76 in the loss for TMP.
The Monarchs, who are 0-3 in district play, will host Beloit in their final district game next Friday.