By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
Aug. 28, 2003
Not that it needed any gas thrown on the fire, but this year's Newton-Forest rivalry is expected to be even more intense than usual.
Brad Peterson, head coach at Newton the last four years, will return to E.L. Morgan Field in Newton Friday night with his new team at Forest as the long-time rivals collide in their season openers.
Newton finished 8-3 last year, while Forest limped in with a 3-8 mark.
Pepper Posey will be making his debut as head coach at Newton.
From 1961-2002, Forest holds a 22-12 advantage in the series, which includes a 27-21 Tiger victory last year.
Newton County
at Kosciusko
For only the second time, the Cougars and Whippets will clash on the gridiron in Friday's season opener for both teams.
The only previous meeting saw Newton County win 10-0 in the 1990 state playoffs at Decatur.
Newton County, 13-1 a year ago, meets a vastly-improved Kosciusko squad that turned in a 2-8 mark in 2002.
The Cougars lost 19 seniors off the 2002 squad.
Noxapater
at Union
The Yellowjackets and Tigers waste no time getting their region play started as they tangle in a Region 3-1A matchup Friday night.
Union won last year's game 27-0 to take a 13-5 lead in the series which began in 1934.
Union finished 10-4 as the Class 1A South State runner-up last year. Noxapater turned in an uncharacteristic 2-9 mark.
The Tigers will be making their debut with first-year head coach Sam Blaylock.
Morton
at Lake
The Hornets host Morton tonight in the first meeting of the two Scott County schools since Lake revived its football program in 1963 following a 10-year layoff.
Lake, which moves up to Class 2A this fall, finished 8-5 in 2002.
Morton, a 3A school, went 7-5 last year.
Newton County Aca.
at Calhoun Aca.
Both teams are in search of their first win of 2003 when they tangle Friday at Calhoun City.
Newton County lost its opener 41-13 to Leake Academy, while Calhoun fell 48-0 to Tunica Institute in last week's action. Tunica led 48-0 at the end of the third quarter.
In his first year as head coach at Calhoun is former Leake Academy head coach and headmaster Pete Lewis.
NCA won last year's game 18-13 to trim the Cougars' series advantage to 2-1.