Cougars hung up big offensive numbers

By Staff
From Staff Reports
Dec. 21, 2001
Newton County, which finished the 2001 football season with an area best 12-1 record, was an offensive machine racking up over 4,000 yards in offense.
The Cougars of coach Jeff Breland rushed for 3,360 yards and passed for 721 to give them 4,081 yards. That ranked fifth statewide.
Class 3A champ Collins, who eliminated Newton County in the third round of the playoffs, was the top offensive teamwith 4,719 yards. Collins was a balanced team too, they rushed for 2,877 and passed for 1,842.
Corinth, the team Collins beat in the 3A finals, was the most balanced team with 2,403 yards rushing and 2,243 yards passing.
Jeff Byrd
Cougars use a good Mapp
A big reason behind Newton County's success was running back Darryl Mapp. The junior back rushed for 1,603 yards and 28 touchdowns to rank fourth among 3A running backs.
The 170 points Mapp totaled ranked him second only behind Columbia's All-State running back Jamall Pittman who scored 218 points off 36 touchdowns.
Jeff Byrd
Blanks near the top in 3A
West Lauderdale junior running back Carleesio Blanks will be the top returning running back in Class 3A next year.
Blanks rushed for 2,090 yards off 269 carries and scored 26 touchdowns for the Knights who finished 7-5 and made it to the second round of the 3A playoffs before running into Newton County.
Blanks had two 300-yard plus games near the end of the season including a 356-yard rampage against Southeast Lauderdale which helped sew up the Knights' playoff bid.
Blanks' final rushing totals were bested only by Jamall Pittman of Columbia who had 3,117 yards and 36 touchdowns. Pittman, however, is a senior and along with Brandon's Jerious Norwood, is one of the state's top recruits.
Jeff Byrd