But Norris does a lot more than kick, as the Harker Academy Eagles learned on Oct. 22 at San Jose's PAL Stadium. In fact, as a running back on offense and a cornerback on defense, he seldom leaves the field.

"I'm just having fun out here," Norris smiled after romping for more than 100 yards and scoring two touchdowns during a 31-8 triumph over Harker in an Private Schools Athletic League opener.

Kings coach Ron Kellner also was smiling after the Knights improved to 4-1-1 overall, but not for long. His thoughts quickly went to the Knights' next opponent, Sacred Heart Prep.

"That will be for all the marbles" in the four-team PSAL, Kellner noted of Saturday's 1:30 p.m. contest at the Knights' field. "Sacred Heart is a very good team."

The Gators of Atherton enter the game with a 4-3 mark, after flexing their muscles in their first league game 60-8 over St. Lawrence Academy.

"We will have to really step it up for that game," said Norris, who did most of his offensive stepping against Harker before the intermission. He gained all but six of his game-high 108 rushing yards in the first half as the Knights built a 24-8 lead.

Norris, the soccer team's third leading scorer (19 goals, four assists) a year ago, by far is the top point producer in his first year of varsity football. He has 76 of the Knights' 143 points on nine touchdowns, 14 conversion kicks, two field goals and a two-point PAT.

The 5-foot-10, 155-pounder Norris bolted off right tackle for a 24-yard touchdown on the Knights' second play from scrimmage. Later, he ran 22 yards for another score with 1:05 left in the second quarter. The scoring romps were sandwiched around Ji Jo's 2-yard TD run and Norris' 27-yard field goal.

But Norris may have been busiest on defense. Along with secondary mates Tim Smith and J.T. Martin, Norris shadowed Eagles receivers all evening as gutsy Harker quarterback Ben Shapiro put the ball in the air 33 times. Norris deflected two passes and had a part of five tackles.

While the Knights cashed in on all four of their first-half possessions, Harker found the end zone just once.

Running out of a "shotgun" offense--as they did for most of the game--the Eagles scored midway through the first quarter on a 12-yard Shapiro pass to 6-foot-5 wide receiver Adhir Ravipati. Shapiro then found senior tight end Eric Gavarre wide open for a two-point PAT and an 8-7 lead with 6:35 left in the period.

The Eagles' eight-play, 80-yard drive featured seven passes and just one run. Shapiro completed 5 of 7 aerials for 72 yards during the drive. Sophomore Jason Martin caught two balls for gains of 23 and 11, Gavarre collected one for nine, and Ravipati snared a 17-yarder and the TD.

The final Kings touchdown occurred early in the third quarter. Junior Tim Svozil crashed through Harker's line to block a punt. Teammate Josh Rauwolf scooped up the bouncing ball at Harker's 22-yard line and raced up the left sideline for a touchdown. Norris' last of four PAT kicks capped the Knights' scoring.

Shapiro, impressive with his agility and scrambling ability, completed 19 of his 33 passes for 158 yards for the Eagles. Ravipati caught seven of those for 69 yards. Martin gained 66 yards on four catches and Gavarre earned 26 on four.

However, Shapiro was on the run all night, continually harassed by the Knights' pass rush. Jo, a quick 6-foot-1, 220-pound nose guard, caused a lot of problems rushing up the gut of Harker's offensive line, often forcing Shapiro to scamper out of the pocket and throw on the run. Five times the Harker signal-caller couldn't get his pass off.

Defensive end Kyle Tompane caught Shapiro twice for sacks and combined with Jo and Sanjay Krishnashwamy on another. Marcos Solis accounted for the other two sacks, one a solo job and the other with help from Tyler Valdez.

The Montoro brothers--senior Josh and junior Paul--were the top tacklers for the Knights. Josh was in on 11 stops, including five solo hits, and Paul had seven assisted tackles and two solos. Tompane took part in six tackles.

Harker ran the ball just 10 times for 45 yards, but yardage losses from the five sacks totaled 52 yards and left the Eagles with a net rushing total of minus-7.

TKA finished the game with 252 total yards, including 211 running the ball behind solid blocking of Solis, Valdez, Rauwolf, Kris Heenk, Dan Milton and Andy Czisch. After Norris, Josh Montoro was the top Knight runner with 53 yards on nine carries. Jo, Paul Montoro and Tom Posey added 14 yards apiece.

The Knights completed 2 of 3 passes for 41 yards in the first half, but did not throw the ball in the second half. Sammy Sussman and Steven Lim, who have been sharing the quarterback duties since a season-ending knee injury sidelined senior Tim Liu, both completed a pass for a key first down to keep drives moving. Lim hit Tompane on a quick pass over the middle for 15 yards, and Sussman found Martin for 26 yards.

Homestead rolls
over Fremont

Homestead and Fremont did not combine for 93 points again, but the two SCVAL teams scored plenty.

The Mustangs, who claimed the 2003 match-up 53-40, defeated the visiting Firebirds, 55-26, last Friday afternoon in a non-league affair. Chris Morris ran for 316 yards and five touchdowns, but he had plenty of help.

Jay Atkins ran for 130 yards and two scores, and quarterback Jake Mecchi hooked up with Aaron Hickson for touchdown passes of 30 and 75 yards. The Mecchi-to-Hickson aerial team accounted for 155 of Mecchi's 180 passing yards.

Homestead resumes De Anza Division action against Saratoga on Oct. 29, 7:30 p.m., at Los Gatos High's Helm Field. The Mustangs, who now have won all four of their non-league games, are 1-2 in their division, with the Falcons, Palo Alto and Los Gatos remaining on their schedule.

Fremont, now 2-4-1 overall, takes a 1-1-1 El Camino mark into its league game Friday night at Diesner Field against visiting Los Altos. The Firebirds conclude division play with Monta Vista and Mountain View.

Mustangs winners
in water polo play

Homestead's boys water polo team captured a pair of El Camino Division games last week, topping Fremont 14-2 on Oct. 19 and dunking Santa Clara 17-5 the next day.

Kenny Russum and Thomas Denton both had four goals against Santa Clara, while Derrick Lee and Simon Iacob added two apiece. Paul Chen, Karta Khalsa and Russum all tallied three goals to pace the win over Fremont.

The Mustangs host Wilcox on Oct. 28 at 3:30 p.m.