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As it did most of the day, the Packers defense pushed the Chargers backwards. The Packers beat Bridgeport, 7-0, to win the championship in the fourth-grade division of the league for the second straight year.
“It’s been like that all year,’’ coach Bert Borges said. “That’s what they do. Bridgeport’s a good team over there. It’s tough to hold Bridgeport down. They’re very fast and athletic.”
Nemo Harris scored Norwalk’s touchdown on a 24-yard run midway through the third quarter. Khalil Eason ran for the conversion. Harris’ run capped an eight-play, 41-yard drive that began after Roderick Olson recovered a Bridgeport fumble on the opening drive of the third quarter.
“I just wanted to get into the end zone,’’ Harris said. “I wanted to do it for my friends and teammates. It feels exciting to win a championship.”
Harris was also a force defensively for the Packers, causing a fumble and making several tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Koy Price also recovered a fumble. Defensive lineman Izayah Valentine was unblockable up for front for Norwalk. Arthur Cocchia, Olson and Price also had tackles for losses.
On Bridgeport’s final drive, Dean Tsiranides and Lorenzo Delfino combined on a sack on the Chargers' first play. After a penalty, Valentine and Thomas Hargrove shared another sack. Bridgeport managed just one first down in the second half – that came on a Norwalk penalty – and totaled 28 net yards on the day.
Norwalk beat Bridgeport, 33-7, during the regular season. That snapped a long Bridgeport winning streak that dated back to last year.
“We had them in the second game of the season, and everyone gets better as the season goes along,’’ Borges said. “We got better too. We expected that this was going to be a tough game.”
Norwalk managed little offense of its own besides its scoring drive. Harris rushed for 46 yards, while Eason had 33 yards on four carries, including a sparkling 29-yard run in the second quarter.
The key thing, however, is that Norwalk advanced. Now it gets to meet Hartford for the state championship Sunday, Nov. 11, at Falcon Field in Meriden. The state winner plays for the New England championship Nov. 25 in Providence, R.I.
“We think we can go a long way,’’ Borges said. “The season’s not over yet. We have to get back to practice this week.”
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