Newton, Philadelphia resume rivalry

By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
Oct. 2, 2003
One of Mississippi's most frequently-played rivalries resumes following a two-year layoff when Newton visits Philadelphia for their 76th meeting Friday night at Harpole Stadium.
Philadelphia holds a 50-23-2 lead in the series which began with a 72-0 Tornado blowout of the Tigers in 1926. The teams met twice in 1929, 1943, and 1944. The only breaks in the series were in 1979 and 1980 and again in 2001 and 2002.
In their last matchup, Philadelphia won 35-20 in 2000. The Tornadoes have won the last three games in the series.
Philadelphia had problems scoring early in the year, putting up seven points against West Lauderdale and 12 in Neshoba Central's only win of the year. Then the Tornadoes racked up 31 points in a losing effort at Taylorsville and 35 in beating Forest last week.
Brown takes the blame for some of the early non-productivity from his offense.
For the year, Murray has rushed 91 times for 658 yards.
Newton head coach Pepper Posey knows about the huge Philadelphia O-line.
Newton starts two freshmen on defense.
Newton comes into the Division 5-2A contest 1-0 in league play and 2-3 overall after beating Kemper County 22-0 last week and Enterprise 26-6 the previous week.
Forest
at Newton County
Newton County looks to salvage a 1-4 season when the Cougars host the 3-1-1 Bearcats in a Division 5-3A contest Friday at Decatur. It will be homecoming for the Cougars.
Newton County is 0-1 in league play after its 31-14 loss to West Lauderdale last week, while Forest comes in 1-0 with a 22-16 victory over Southeast Lauderdale.
Forest has a 7-3 lead in the series, despite Cougar wins in 2001 and 2002.
Both teams are coming off losses. Newton County fell at West Lauderdale, while Forest lost at home to Philadelphia by a 35-21 margin.
The Cougars had a four-year, 27-game win streak against division opponents snapped last week.
Hebron Christian
at Newton County Academy
After battling to stay in the playoff picture in Academy Class A, the 3-3 Generals take a break from Academy 3-A wars when they host Hebron, 1-5, for homecoming.
Hebron won the only previous meeting between the two 43-6 last year at Pheba.
Lee Blackburn rushed for 180 yards last week as the Generals knocked off Central Academy 16-6. NCA had 307 total yards with 266 coming on the ground.
Union
at Pisgah
The Yellowjackets knocked off Pelahatchie 28-7 in their homecoming last week to improve to 2-3 overall and in Region 3-1A.
Pisgah fell to 1-4 with a 42-0 loss to South Leake.
Freshman Steven Lewis had 94 yards on 15 carries as he replaced the injured Anthony Johnson (hamstring) in Brad Breland's backfield.
Union has a 3-1 series advantage.