By By Robbie Robertson/EMG sports writer
September 20, 2003
NEWTON Football is a game of opportunities. For the first three games, Newton didn't take advantage of its opportunities.
Friday night, the Tigers did and the Enterprise Bulldogs didn't.
Newton finally got its running game going as the Tigers exploded for 20 second-half points to run past the Enterprise Bulldogs 26-6 at E.L. Morgan Field to give Pepper Posey his first win at the helm of the Tigers.
Newton, 1-3, will travel to Kemper County next week to open up 5-2A play. Enterprise, 2-2, will host Lake next week.
For the Tigers, it was a breakout victory with Posey's option offense finally getting on track. On the night, the Tigers rushed for 256 yards with three players running for more than 65 yards.
One of the keys for the Tigers was the play of sophomore quarterback Montez Moore, who came into the game in the second quarter to replace the injured D'Artagan Dawkins. Moore ended up with 66 yards on five carries and scored two touchdowns on runs of 53 and seven yards.
things are going to happen. It was time for something good to happen for us."
The Tigers took its first lead of the season late in the first quarter with the help of a 13-play, 89-yard drive. The big play on the drive came on a fourth-and-6 from the Enterprise 47 when Dawkins hit Marcus Wilson on a 27-yard pass play. On the next play, Cornelius Caraway, who ended up with 92 yards on 13 carries, bolted into the end zone from 20 yards out with 1:55 left in the first. The PAT failed and Newton led 6-0, a score that held the rest of the half.
The Bulldogs had their opportunities in the first half. On its first possession, Enterprise quarterback Wade Weathers was intercepted by Caraway at the Newton 11. On their second possession, the Bulldogs drove to the Newton 26 before turning the ball over on downs. On its third possession, Enterprise got to the Newton 5 before turning the ball over on downs again.
On its last possession of the first half, Enterprise got to the Newton 5 again but failed to score.
Posey praised his defense for not breaking in the first half.
The second half belonged to the Tigers as they scored on their first three possessions.
The first came after Moore recovered a Bulldog fumble at the Enterprise 34. Moore then capped off a quick four-play drive with a 7-yard keeper on the option with 10:30 left in the third for a 12-0 Newton lead.
Enterprise answered with an 11-play, 56-yard drive that was capped off by a Cody Windham 6-yard run with 4:16 left in the third. The PAT failed and Newton led 12-6.
The Tigers answered with an eight-play, 61-yard drive as Travaone Evans broke free on a 25-yard run with 31.6 seconds left in the third. Caraway ran in the two-point conversion and Newton led 20-6.
After the Bulldog offense turned the ball over on downs, the Tigers quickly found the end zone as Moore ripped off a 53-yard touchdown run with 8:52 left in the fourth for a 26-6 Newton lead.
Caraway led all rushers with 92 yards on 13 carries while Evans had 72 yards on 11 carries. Newton had 283 yards of total offense with 12 first downs.
Enterprise had 284 yards of total offense with 15 first downs. Windham led Enterprise on the ground with 69 yards on 18 carries.