Cougars edge out Morton
By By Marty Stamper / staff writer
Oct. 9, 2004
DECATUR In a 31-30 game that saw nearly 900 yards of total offense, it's hard to believe that defense was the determining factor.
But that was indeed the case as Newton County held off a late charge by Morton to take the 31-30 Division 5-3A win. The Cougars improved to 3-3 overall and 2-1 in 5-3A, while Morton fell to 4-3 and 2-1.
Newton County had rallied from a 30-21 deficit to start the fourth quarter and gone up by a point on a 24-yard run by Fred Lyons and a clutch extra point by Austin Scoggins with 2:10 remaining.
But that shaky lead looked like it might not last as Morton picked up 51 yards to the Cougar 26 on a pass from Chase Patrick to Shay Hodge.
Morton's Beau Hannah had already closed out the first half with a 32-yard field goal that sent the Panthers into the break with a 16-14 lead, after Newton County jumped out 14-0 early.
But Hannah never got the chance for another kick. Hodge was called for intentional grounding on first-and-10 following his catch, then lost a fumble that Newton County's David Windham recovered at the Panther 44 with 37 seconds left.
The Cougars were without three starters on defense due to injuries, and the Panthers took advantage of their fortune. Morton finished with 493 total yards with 270 coming on 40 rushes and 223 coming on a 9-of-17 passing effort by Patrick and Hodge. Morton had nine plays of 24 yards or more.
Newton County took advantage of a fumble recovery by Colton Mapp on the Panther 21 to grab a quick 7-0 lead. Colby Amis kept the last three plays on the four-play drive, scoring from four yards out. Scoggins added the PAT with 9:49 left in the first quarter.
The Cougars went up 14-0 when Amis connected with Jose Alcantar on a 37-yard touchdown pass with 5:02 showing in the opening period.
Morton cut the deficit in half with a nine-play, 87-yard drive capped by a 14-yard run by Courtney Boyd with 1:33 left in the first quarter. Hannah's kick was good.
Morton closed the gap to 14-13 on a 13-yard pass from Hodge to Hannah midway through the second quarter. Hannah's PAT was wide left.
Hannah atoned for that miss with a 32-yard field goal with only 13 seconds left in the half to put Morton up 16-14. The Panthers had 281 total yards at the break to 178 for the Cougars.
The Cougars opened the second half with a bang as J.D. Skinner took the first play following a touchback 80 yards to the end zone. Scoggins' PAT put Newton County up 21-16.
Four plays later, Morton reclaimed the lead on a 74-yard pass from Hodge to Corey Steel. Hannah's kick gave the Panthers a 23-21 edge.
After a 40-yard punt return by Ryan Parker to the Cougar 21, it took Morton just two plays to add more points as Hodge and Steel combined on a 14-yard scoring toss.
The Panthers were driving again when Skinner picked off a Hodge pass at his 3 and returned it nine yards. Morton drew a 15-yard penalty following the play.
The Cougars took advantage of Skinner's theft as they got to within striking range on a drive that covered 61 yards before stalling at the Panther 7. Tommy Strange booted a 24-yard field goal to bring Newton County to within 30-24.
Newton County drove 56 yards in eight plays for the game-winning touchdown. Lyons got the score when he bounced outside to the Cougar sideline near the line of scrimmage and headed to the end zone on a 24-yard run. Scoggins' then drilled the game-winning PAT and the Cougar defense took over from there.
