By By Robbie Robertson/special to The Star
August 30, 2003
NEWTON Only nine yards separated Forest and Newton on the stat sheet, but seven Newton turnovers spelled Newton's doom.
Forest ran back a fumble and an interception for scores as the Bearcats began the Brad Peterson era with a 24-0 blanking of his former team at E.L. Morgan Field Friday night.
Forest, 1-0, hits the road again next week when they go to Philadelphia to take on Neshoba Central, a 28-7 loser to Aberdeen. Newton, 0-1, also hits the road when the Tigers travel to Ackerman, a 35-12 winner over Calhoun City.
For the Tigers and first-year coach Pepper Posey, turnovers were the difference in the game.
turned the ball over that many times. But our defense played well and kept us in the game. The kids never gave up played hard to the end."
For Peterson and the Forest program, it was an emotional win after going 2-8 last season.
On the night, the Bearcats used a balanced offensive attack and an opportunistic defense to keep Newton off balance. Forest managed only 120
yards of total offense, 52 rushing and 68 passing for 12 first downs. Newton on the other hand, had 111 total yards, all on the ground.
The Bearcats didn't get on the board until midway through the second quarter when they recovered a Phillip Evans fumble at the Newton 22. But the Tiger defense held and Forest's Grey LaPrade booted a 30-yard field goal for a 3-0 Forest lead with 9:57 left in the half.
On the Tiger's ensuing possession, a fumbled kickoff return left Newton at its own 8. Two plays later, Newton quarterback Montez Moore was sacked in the end zone for a safety at the 9:05 mark in the second and Forest led 5-0.
Just before the half, the Bearcats persistent passing attack finally paid off as Matt Reynolds hit Michael Townsend on a 23-yard touchdown pass with 19.3 seconds left in the half. The PAT was blocked and Forest led 11-0 at
the half.
Newton took the ball in the second half and started with consecutive first down by Cornelius Caraway to move to the Forest 29. Then disaster struck for the Tigers when Forest's Jacob Lee picked up a Newton fumble and ran 66 yards for a touchdown. LaPrade's PAT was good and Forest led 18-0.
Forest's last score, came on a 30-yard interception return by D'Artagan Dawkins with 5:21 left.