Noorworth Rushes for Two Scores as Empire Beat Vultures
Riley Kade — JRSports One
Eli Noorworth ran for 144 yards and two touchdowns, and New York Empire beat Phoenix Vultures 33-6. New York never trailed and Phoenix never led, as the Empire's running game and Henry Cerkley's kicking did most of the damage.
The turning point came early. Cerkley hit a 44-yard field goal at 10:44 of the first quarter to give New York a 3-0 lead, and Riley Hool's 2-yard touchdown run at 0:38 made it 10-0. Phoenix never got closer than 10 points after that.
Kazuki Nunno's 54-yard field goal at 12:12 of the second quarter cut the margin to 10-3. Cerkley's 24-yard field goal at 0:51 gave New York a 13-3 halftime lead. In the third quarter, Cerkley hit from 46 yards at 11:14 for a 16-3 lead, and Nunno answered with a 55-yard field goal at 8:51 to make it 16-6. Cerkley's 47-yard field goal at 5:31 made it 19-6, and Noorworth's 3-yard touchdown run at 1:34 pushed the Empire ahead 26-6. Noorworth's 2-yard touchdown run at 7:52 of the fourth quarter set the final score.
Phoenix turned the ball over twice. Logan Chommore's big hit at 3:25 of the first quarter jarred the ball loose from Quinn Whemmore after a 6-yard completion to Manny Jianeda, and the defense recovered. Colin Stes intercepted Whemmore at 3:01 of the fourth quarter and returned it 4 yards.
Whemmore completed 13 of 23 passes for 126 yards with one interception for Phoenix. Noorworth carried 22 times for 144 yards and two touchdowns for New York and also caught five passes for 31 yards. Keaton Naildale led the Empire receivers with eight catches for 68 yards. Grant Perkman completed 12 of 24 passes for 95 yards for New York. On defense, Elvis Zunt recorded three sacks and Walker Cromby added two.
Connor Saimford, the Phoenix wide receiver, did not return after a shoulder sprain and is out five weeks. Dylan Rartrick, the New York fullback, did not return from an MCL sprain and is out three weeks. Matt Dudale, the Phoenix strong safety, was out for the game with a hamstring strain. Sam Toorkmore, the New York quarterback, was listed questionable with hamstring tightness and did not return.
New York outgained Phoenix 320 yards to 170 and converted 5 of 14 third downs. The Empire improved to 4-4 with the win, and Phoenix dropped to 3-3-1.
