By By Robbie Robertson / special to The Star
Nov. 13, 2004
HAZLEHURST Now Newton County's defensive backs have an idea of how opposing defenses feel when they play the Minnesota Vikings and Randy Moss.
Hazlehurst wideout Damony Carroll, who wears Moss' No. 84, torched the Newton County defense for 130 yards and two scores on eight catches to lead the Indians to a 36-7 win over the Cougars on Friday night.
Newton County finished the season with a 7-4 record, while Hazlehurst improved to 10-1. Hazlehurst will travel to West Lauderdale on Friday in a Class 3A South State semifinals matchup.
Hazlehurst flexed its muscle and speed in the first half, racing out to a 30-0 halftime lead.
On the night, the Indians had 362 yards of total offense, 209 on the ground and 153 in the air. But the big plays came mostly in the air, where quarterback Fred Robinson took a page out of the Minnesota Vikings' playbook by simply throwing the ball up and letting the 6-foot-4 Carroll go up and get the football. That accounted for two touchdowns and opened up the Indians' running game.
Newton County's first-half highlights were a pair of first downs on the opening drive. But a motion penalty stalled the drive. From there, the Cougars managed only 155 total yards and 10 first downs.
Hazlehurst answered back with a seven-play, 79-yard drive, with Robinson hitting Carroll on a 32-yard score with 4:38 left in the first quarter. Bobby Moore ran in the two-point conversion for an 8-0 Hazlehurst lead.
After trading punts, Hazlehurst went on a scoring frenzy the second quarter.
The first touchdown came at the 9:30 mark on a Moore 3-yard run. Then, with 3:32 left in the half, Robinson hit Johnny Sanders for a 32-yard score. Courtney Hall rounded out the first-half scoring when he scampered 68 yards for a touchdown with 1:02 left in the half.
Hazlehurst squashed any thoughts of a comeback by taking the opening drive of the second half and driving 49 yards in nine plays. Robinson hit Carroll on a 15-yard pass for the score and a 36-0 Indians lead.
Newton County got its only score midway through the fourth quarter after David Windham recovered a Hazlehurst fumble. Colby Amis scored on a three-yard quarterback keeper with 6:37 left to play.
The other Cougar highlight of the half was a J.D. Skinner pass interception.