Eagles Ready to Soar, Take on Redskins in Season Warm Up

The Eagles took to the road (a place they will have to get very comfortable with this season, as their new nest is still under construction) on Saturday as Norristown got the season officially underway with an all out scrimmage with Neshaminy.

Eagles head coach Ernie Smith, now in his ninth season, looks forward to this time of year as a measuring stick of where his squad is in their level of play. He hopes to get a glimpse of areas that need some work before the season opener Friday, Sept. 2 against Pottstgrove.

“As coaches we love to have these scrimmages,” said Smith. “We are coming off a 5-5 season, so it’s great to go up against a team that made it deep in the state playoffs last year. We have a unique situation this season as even though we have a big senior class, we only are returning three and four starters on both sides of the ball.”

Norristown will rely heavily on its core group of seniors this year.

Offensively, the Eagles will be led by tailbacks Brandon Shippen and Eric Handy who should provide a speed threat, forcing opponents to game plan for a potent running game that may open up the field for the downfield attack. 

“I think at running back we will have a very good group,” added Smith. “We have a number one, one-A and one-B back there. I think the biggest key to our success this year will be out play up front. We need to do a great job up front at really step up that part of our game over last year.”

Norristown seniors Joe Lang (OT/DT), Najee Harris (DE/G) and Kyle McClure (C/DT) were solid on Saturday against the vaunted Redskins defensive line and it will be paramount that the senior trio provides leadership and protection for quarterback Shannon Mayer and the stable of thoroughbreds behind him.

“We have worked all summer to get ready for this year,” said Harris. “We know we can be much better than we were last season. We have to really focus on the details and small stuff that will make a difference in games. As seniors we need to step up and be leaders on this squad.”

“We have had a great camp so far,” added Shippen. “Our drills have been much more intense and we have spent more time lifting and conditioning than in years past. We have a lot of experience which will help us but in our league we will have to bring our A game every week.”

The chemistry that has been developed on this year’s squad, as most of the kids have played together since early on a members of the Norristown Youth League Bandits, will be a huge asset as the Suburban One league regular season gets underway.

During Saturday’s action, Shippen and Handy both broke huge runs and got some very good work in as did the Eagle special teams looking to be in mid season form.

“This was a good test for us today,” said Smith. “Our league has had a lot of parody the last few seasons, so getting off to a good start is important. We are looking forward to the challenge of playing our games on the road and have as good a chance as any one in our conference to be playing in December, which is always a goal.”

2011 Norristown Area High School Footbal Schedule:

• Aug. 26, 6 p.m. @ West Chester East
• Sept. 2, 7 p.m. @ Pottsgrove
• Sept. 9, 7 p.m. @ Central Bucks East
• Sept. 16, 7 p.m. @ Central Bucks South
• Sept. 23, 7 p.m. @ Upper Merion
• Sept. 30, 7 p.m. @ Wissahickon
• Oct. 6, 7 p.m. @ Upper Moreland
• Oct. 14, 7 p.m. @ Upper Dublin
• Oct. 22, 1 p.m. @ Cheltenham
• Oct. 29, 1:30 p.m. @ Wyomising
• Nov. 4, 7 p.m. @ Plymouth Whitemarsh
• Nov. 12, 1 p.m. @ Phoenixville