The Normans were the first to light the score board in last Friday’s hard-fought heartbreaker against Santa Monica at Nickoll Field.

A four-yard run by  junior AJ Fortier, set up by a 50-yard run on a fumble recovered by junior Matt Yashar set the Normans in motion.

The Vikings quickly responded by tying the score.  

The next BHHS touchdown was in the second quarter—a five-yard run by senior Jeremy Bruce.  

In the third quarter, the Normans extended their lead to 21-7 with a one-yard touchdown run, again by Bruce, set up on a 60-yard pass from junior quarterback Josh Newman to sophomore Cameron Countryman.

Santa Monica got back in the action scoring off a blocked punt  and followed that soon afterward with another touchdown, bringing the score to 21-21.  

The Normans answered back quickly with an 85-yard drive on three great pass plays and then another touchdown, a quarterback sneak by Countryman.

The kick for the extra point was successfully blocked, bringing the score to 27-21, Beverly Hills.

On Santa Monica’s final drive of the game, the Normans defense held the Vikings  to fourth and long twice, but the Vikings  scored the second time with only about 40 seconds left in the game. The extra point was good, making the final score 28-27, Vikings.

Although this was a stinging loss, the Normans were happy to welcome back key players Newman, Brandon Pena, Bruce,  Fortier and Markus Silbiger. This gives the Normans a lot more options to build on, both on offense and defense.

The coaches praised the play of Greg Townsend and Matt Yashar on defense, and running back Frank Brown and receiver Daniel Bradbury on offense.

Tonight the Normans (4-3, 1-1)  in league play take on the Inglewood Sentinels in their homecoming game.

Newman will start as quarterback, and Countryman will also to get a  turn in the position.

The Normans have won 16 of their last 17 games against Inglewood. Last season saw the Normans, 30-points down in the third quarter, come back to a 28-27 win against the Sentinels.