Cougars get back to basics in shutout over Northeast

By By Robbie Robertson / special to The Star
September 11, 2004
DECATUR After opening the season with consecutive losses, Newton County coach Jeff Breland went back to what he knows best against Northeast Lauderdale physical, smash-mouth football.
His Cougars responded by rushing for 264 yards and shutting out visiting Northeast Lauderdale 22-0 Friday night at Cougar Stadium.
Newton County moves to 1-2 on the season and will travel to Quitman next week while Northeast Lauderdale falls to 1-2 and travels to Northeast Jones in its 5-4A opener.
For the Cougars, it was a matter of controlling the line of scrimmage. On offense, the Cougars averaged just over five yards a carry with three running backs gaining more than 50 yards. Freshman J.D. Skinner led the way with 81 yards on 12 carries and a touchdown. Senior quarterback Colby Amis had 61 yards on 11 carries with two scores while senior fullback Donnell McDowell had 54 yards on 14 carries.
The defense sacked Northeast five times and had nine tackles for loss in limiting the Trojans to just 105 yards of total offense and nine first downs.
Ironically, the defense set up the first score after pinning Northeast Lauderdale deep in their own territory.
After Northeast quarterback Maurice Langston was sacked at the 3, the punter had the snap go through his hands and through the back of the end zone with 5:28 left in the first for a 2-0 Newton County lead.
Northeast actually ran 29 consecutive plays at one point, 15 to end the first half and 14 to start the second half and failed to find the end zone.