Newton Tigers face tough foe in Ackerman

By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
Sept. 12, 2002
For the third consecutive week, the Newton Tigers will hit the road as their latest journey finds them traveling north up Highway 15 to take on the defending Class 2A state champion Ackerman Indians.
Ackerman dropped a 28-23 decision to Pontotoc last week to fall to 1-1 after a 24-6 opening-night win over Choctaw Central.
Newton took an 18-13 win at Amite County last week to up its record to 2-0. The Tigers scored on a blocked field goal return by Austin Bonds, a 9-yard run by Cornelius Caraway, and a 40-yard run by Laderrian Blaylock.
Ackerman defeated Newton 28-7 last year with the big play factoring into the loss.
Lake at Union
The Region 3-1A race gets under way Friday with Lake and Union battling to stay atop the leaderboard after one week.
Both enter Friday's matchup with a pair of losses against larger schools in tuneup games. Union fell to Enterprise and West Lauderdale, while Lake came up short against Newton and Scott Central.
Punting woes doomed Lake in last week's 35-0 loss to Scott Central as the Rebels blocked four punts.
A 2-of-15 showing through the air cost Union in its 22-12 loss at West Lauderdale.
Union's Anthony Johnson gained 94 yards on 13 carries and Quincy Patrick added 89 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries against the Knights.
Lake has won the last four meetings to take a 12-9-1 lead in the series. Three of the last four have been decided by a single point with Lake winning 7-6 in 1998, 22-21 in 2000, and 31-30 in 2001.
Newton County
at Morton
The Cougars got a four-touchdown performance from Darryl Mapp as they handed Ridgeland its first loss in school history with a 41-3 drubbing at Decatur last week.
Mapp finished the night with 208 yards on 15 carries.
The Cougar defense held the Titans to just 37 total yards and zero first downs. Meanwhile, the Cougar offense had 475 total yards with 446 coming on 52 rushes.
The Cougars visit Morton, a team they beat twice last year, this Friday night. Newton County has a 5-2 lead in the series.
Morton is 2-0 after knocking off Carthage (6-2) and defending Class 1A state champion Pelahatchie (19-8).