By By Jamey Lanier/Special to the Star
October 6, 2001
DECATUR- The Newton County Cougars used a grind-it-out offense and a defense that would make anyone this side of the Baltimore Ravens envious to thump Choctaw Central 50-12 before a large homecoming crowd.
Cougar defensive linemen Adam Bout and Michael Johnson wrecked havoc on the Warrior offense play after play to keep Choctaw Central off balance and give Newton County good field position for most of the game.
Both teams came out flat in the first half before Johnson pounced on a Warrior fumble to set the Cougars up at the Warrior 20-yard line. Darryl Mapp put the first points on the board when he broke loose for a 40-yard scoring run. David McConnell hit the extra point to put Newton County up 7-0 with 2:58 to play in the first quarter.
The Cougar defense forced the Warriors to punt after three plays on their next possession, and scored a safety when punter Anselm Henry ran out of the endzone after a bad snap. Newton County was up 9-0 at the 2:03 mark in the first quarter.
The Cougars took the free kick and marched 52-yards in seven plays and scored on a 37-yard jaunt by Mapp. McConnell's kick was wide, leaving the score at 15-0 with 11:49 to play in the quarter.
Newton County extended it's lead on it's next possession on a 9-play 52-yard scoring drive that ended on a 11-yard pass from Brian Mcdonald to Dusty Rose, who made a diving catch in the endzone. McConnell split the uprights for the PAT to extend the Cougar lead to 22-0.
Choctaw Central got on the scoreboard on it's next possession when Henry found Giovann Dixon for an 11-yard scoring pass. The try for two failed and Choctaw had narrowed the gap to 22-6 with 2:06 left to play in the quarter.
The Warriors put the first points of the second half on the board when Henry stepped in front of a Mcdonald pass and returned it 45-yards for a touchdown. The pass for the two-point conversion failed but the Warriors were closer at 22-12 with 11:50 to play in the third quarter.
McDonald proved his football smarts on the next possession, when he checked off at the line and hit a wide open Bout for a 56-yard touchdown pass. McConnell hit the PAT to give Newton County a 29-12 advantage.
The Cougars put two more touchdowns on the board in the third quarter on runs by Terrance Patrick and rounded out the scoring in the final period when freshman quarterback Colby Amis outraced everyone around left end for an 88-yard scoring run. McConnell hit the PAT.
Mapp, who reeled off his sixth straight 100-yard game, led all rushers with 116 yards on just seven carries and found the end zone two times. Mcdonald followed with 100 yards on 7 attempts, and was two of four passing with two touchdowns and one interception.
The Cougars returns to action next week at Southeast Lauderdale for a division match up.