Norwalk's Nicholas Rosado brings down Aspetuck ball carrier Emmett LiCastri.

Photo Credit: David Esposito

Norwalk's Alex Jerome heads upfield as Aspetuck's Axel Effinger tries for a tackle.

Photo Credit: David Esposito

Norwalk's Malcolm Robinson carries the ball as Weston's JT DeLara closes in.

Photo Credit: David Esposito

Weston's Austin Drimal is tackled by Norwalk's Izaiah Sanders.

Photo Credit: David Esposito

Norwalk's Malcolm Robinson goes for Aspetuck's Liam Murphy.

Photo Credit: David Esposito

Aspetuck's Emmett LiCastri looks to elude Norwalk's Thomas Smalls.

Photo Credit: David Esposito

Norwalk's seventh-grade football Panthers have many offensive weapons in their arsenal. They used all of them Sunday afternoon in a 28-0 romp over the Aspetuck Wildcats to kick off their season with an impressive victory at Andrews Field.

"The thing I like most about this game is all 34 players contributed,'' coach John Woodring said. "If you look up and down our team, you'll find somebody that had a good tackle, a good block, scored a touchdown or kicked an extra point."

Alex Jerome ran for one touchdown and passed for another for Norwalk. He scored on a 9-yard touchdown run on Norwalk's first drive of the game. Jerome and speedy Lester Harris hooked up on a 82-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter to complete the scoring. Norwalk's other touchdowns came on a 22-yard touchdown run by Mark Crafter Jr. and a 1-yard run by Tony Burden in the second quarter. Kevin Woodring and Jerome kicked PATs. Crafter carried four times for 42 yards to lead Norwalk rushers.

Norwalk also forced two turnovers. Navarro picked off a pass, and George Peele III recovered a fumbled caused by Sanders. In addition, Norwalk showed balance in its offense. Running out of a unique single-wing formation, 13 players carried the ball for the Panthers. Norwalk rushed for 150 yards.

"One of our goals is to have a lot of different guys carry the ball,'' Woodring said. "We have a lot of people that can do that. We feel very blessed to have that."

Norwalk also controlled the line with its superior size. The Wildcats played Norwalk tough in three games as fifth-graders. Norwalk dominated Sunday's game, however. "They were one of four teams in the Candlewood Valley League semifinals last year, so we thought they'd be a hard game for us,'' Woodring said. "They fight, and they never give up."