By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

For the second straight week, turnovers proved to be a costly nemesis for the Ravenna Ravens.

One week removed from a loss to Woodridge that included seven turnovers, the Ravens had three more (two fumbles and an interception) on Friday in a 35-14 defeat at Norton.

Ravenna also had 11 penalties for 125 yards.

The first turnover helped put the Panthers in the lead, when Cooper Nipuelio scooped up a fumble and raced it back 40 yards to the end zone to give Norton a 7-0 lead.

The advantage for the Panthers grew to 14-0, with 1:58 in the first quarter, on a 1-yard run by quarterback Toby Tatka.

The lead became 21-0 by halftime on a second-quarter scoring pass from Tatka to Jason Hippler just before the end of the stanza (18 seconds remaining).

Norton continued to push ahead, lifting its lead to 28-0 on a 22-yard run by Nathan Merrill.

Ravenna finally got on the board in the third quarter, scoring all 14 of its points.

The first touchdown came at the 5:55 mark on a 44-yard pass from M’Kell Williams to MayKai O’Neal. Mikey Myers kicked the extra point.

A few minutes later, with 1:14 showing on the third-quarter clock, Pavel Henderson pushed the Ravens back into the end zone on a 2-yard run. Myers again kicked the point-after and Ravenna cut into Norton’s lead at 28-14.

The Panthers, however, held the Ravens scoreless in the fourth quarter and added another touchdown of their own on a 7-yard run by Nipuelio.

Norton finished the regular season 8-2 overall and 6-1 in the Metro Athletic Conference to force a three-way share of the league championship with Cloverleaf and Woodrige.

The Panthers clinched a top-eight finish in Division III, Region 10 and will host a playoff game next Friday.

Ravenna is mathematically eliminated from postseason play. The Ravens were 3-7 overall and 1-6 in the MAC.