Myles Norris, T.L. Hanna’s backup quarterback, got the news at halftime against Mauldin: he was finally getting a full drive at QB, a first in his high school career. Then came the lightning, suspending the Week 5 SCHSL game for *three whole days* just as the teams were coming out for the third quarter. The Yellow Jackets were up 20-7 when the skies opened, forcing everyone to wait until Monday to finish what started Friday.
The Long Wait Pays Off in a Flash
When the game finally resumed on September 21st, Norris wasted no time. He led a touchdown drive on his first full turn under center, completing his only pass for 35 yards to Azariah Sizemore, setting up Esaias Carroll for the touchdown run that finished the possession. How about that for making the most of a chance? “That was fun,” Norris said about the drive. “I’ve been in there at quarterback for a couple of plays but never a whole drive. I’m happy I got my chance. It was exciting.” But he wasn’t done! Back at his usual starting cornerback spot, the junior wrapped up the 33-7 victory with his first career interception. Talk about an amazing comeback! “And then to get a pick, it just felt amazing,” he added. The guy was ready, even after that bizarre delay. “Kinda crazy, you know?” Norris reflected. “It’s hard to stay focused when you’re in halftime for two days, but we came back ready to play.”
Coach Tone Sees the Future
T.L. Hanna coach Jason Tone and his offensive staff had actually scripted that series for Norris, and he executed it perfectly. “He did a good job,” Tone said. The coach has wanted to use Norris more at quarterback this season, especially since the team runs a very run-heavy offense and starting QB Will Mayfield only threw his first touchdown in the restart against Mauldin, bringing his season total to 263 passing yards. Tone initially planned to play Norris every third series, but his duties as starting cornerback, covering the best receiver, make it tough. “He starts on defense, so a lot of times when we really want to get him in at quarterback, he’s tired,” Tone explained. “We knew we were getting the ball to start the second half, so we were like, ‘You know, let’s let him take that first series. He’ll be fresh.’”
The Yellow Jackets, now 4-1, have an open date for Week 6, giving them time to figure out how to integrate this newfound offensive weapon. They’ll kick off Region 1-4A play at home on October 2 against Fountain Inn. Myles Norris, still just a junior, is absolutely going to be more of a factor for the stretch run. “Myles brings another dimension with his feet,” Tone said. “He’s explosive. Everybody thinks he’s just a runner when we rotate him in there, but he can throw the ball, too. He’s already covering and making plays for us on defense. He’s going to help us on the other side of the ball, too. He’s got a lot of good attributes. The biggest thing is he’s just a junior, so he’s got an opportunity to get better.” Get ready, Region 1-4A, because the Yellow Jackets just unlocked another level!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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