By By Rocky Higginbotham/special to The Star
September 21, 2002
DECATUR A quick look at the final statistics suggests Neshoba Central and homestanding Newton County had a defensive struggle here Friday night.
But the final statistics don't show field position; and in this game, field position may have been the single most important factor.
Newton County jumped on Neshoba with a pair of touchdowns in the first 4 minutes, 16 seconds of the contest, and the Cougars coasted to a 31-7 win over the Rockets.
Breland gave big credit to defensive coordinator Mike Spence and D-line coach Ben Kitchings, and their unit produced. Nine of the Cougars' 14 possessions started on the Neshoba Central half of the field; while the Rockets started all 13 of their possessions on their own half.
Neshoba didn't help its cause with four turnovers, all of which came in a first half that ended with the Cougars leading 17-0.
Newton County outgained Neshoba just 176-156 in total yardage, but the Cougars didn't turn the ball over and got a host of key plays when needed.
On just their second offensive play from scrimmage, David Fielder rumbled 40 yards right down the middle of the field for a touchdown, and Tommy Strange added the PAT.
Two plays later, Terrance Patrick picked off a Neshoba pass and returned it 21 yards to the Rockets' 14. Darryl Mapp busted a 13-yard run to the 1 on the next play, and a couple plays later Mapp punched it into the end zone. Strange's PAT put Newton County up 14-0 with 7:44 still remaining in the first quarter.
Despite good field position for the Cougars, however, neither team really seriously threatened again until just before the half.
That's when Breland elected to let Mylan Anderson attempt a field goal from 50 yards out, and Anderson drilled it to give the Cougars a 17-0 cushion just six seconds before the break.
Early in the third quarter, a botched punt gave Newton County the ball at Neshoba's 17-yard line, and set up the Cougars' first score of the second half. Colby Amis hit Patrick on a 13-yard touchdown pass on a third-and-6, and Strange's PAT kick made it 24-0.
Patrick busted a 32-yarder early in the fourth, and a personal foul against Neshoba tacked on to the end of the run put Newton County a the Rockets' 13. Sophomore Willie Windham carried it in three plays later from 5 yards out, and Strange's kick made it 31-0.
Neshoba broke the shutout with 6:00 left in the game. Not long after a 30-yard pass completion from Josh Palmer to William Adkins was nullified due to a penalty, Andrew Robinson found the end zone. Ricky Sorrell gave Robinson a crushing block at the 5 on the 13-yard TD run, and Kyle Vowell's PAT kick ended the scoring at 31-7.
Robinson's 81 yards on 16 carries led Neshoba, while Kevin Marshall ran for 64 yards on 13 totes.
Fielder's 45 yards on six carries led seven Newton County ball carriers.
The win lifted Newton County which opens Region 5-3A play at home against West Lauderdale next week to 4-0. Neshoba fell to 0-4.