Newton County takes win
By By Rocky Higginbotham/Special to The Star
November 1, 2003
DECATUR Newton County fans will likely point to a couple of marathon marches by their Cougars as the keys to Friday night's Region 5-3A victory over visiting Choctaw Central.
But it was the Cougars' shortest scoring drive of the night which may have been the biggest.
Newton County got a 40-yard touchdown run from Duke Hudnall with 2 minutes remaining to cap a seven-play, 68-yard drive and it served as the nail in the coffin in a 28-14 Cougars' win.
Hudnall, a sophomore, showed out with 186 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries for Newton County, which rolled up 319 of its 370 yards of total offense on the ground.
"He's been doing that for us most of the year," Newton County coach Jeff Breland said of Hudnall. "He ran the ball hard tonight, and we did a much better job of blocking in the second half."
Choctaw led 7-0 early and was tied 14-14 with Newton County heading into the fourth quarter. But while the Warriors stuffed the dive most of the night, they had trouble when Newton County quarterback Colby Amis kept or pitched to Hudnall.
"We loosened them up a little bit with the option," Breland said. "Of course, we also squandered a few opportunities where we could have taken control of the game a little earlier.
"But we're thankful for the win," he said. "We're going to the playoffs, and that's what we wanted."
Newton County improved to 6-4 overall and 5-1 in region play, but will likely be the odd-man out in a three-way tie atop the league standings. That means the Cougars will be a third seed in the postseason and travel to either Tylertown or Greene County in first-round, Class 3A playoff action next week.
Choctaw Central finished the season 4-6 and 2-4.
A dozen Warriors played their final high school football contests and were visibly shaken afterward. But Choctaw Central shined early, especially senior wideout Rodgrick Anderson.
Anderson got behind the Newton County secondary and hauled in a 56-yard pass from Shaun Jimmie that pushed the Warriors to the Cougar 2 and set up Choctaw's first score. Bracey Billie did the honors on the next play with a 2-yard touchdown run, and Neal Cotton's kick made it 7-0.
It stayed that way until early in the second, when disaster struck for the Warriors. With Billie apparently attempting a throwback pass to Jimmie, Hudnall stepped in front of the errant throw and returned it 41 yards for a touchdown. Tommy Strange's PAT kick tied it at 7-7 with 10:37 left in the first half.
Then, Newton County put together the first of its two monstrous marches a 15-play, 96-yard drive that culminated with a 9-yard touchdown run by Amis. Strange's kick made it 14-7 at the half.
Choctaw Central took advantage of a fumble recovery by Aven Isaac to set up its next score. Isaac's recovery put Choctaw at the Warriors' own 43, and Billie busted a 43-yarder to the Cougar 14 on the next play. Jimmie capped the drive with a 4-yard keeper, and Cotton's kick tied it at 14-14 with 4:42 on the third-quarter clock.
Newton County went up for good with a 13-play, 84-yard scoring march, with Hudnall's 8-yard scoring run and Strange's kick making it 21-14 before Hudnall's 40-yarder with 2:00 remaining sealed it.
In addition to Hudnall's big night, Amis ran it 13 times for 88 yards and was 6-of-13 passing for 51 yards for Newton County.
Billie rumbled for 131 yards on 23 carries to lead Choctaw Central, while Jimmie was 5-of-11 passing for 87 yards with Anderson catching four of those passes for 76 yards.
