Newton takes 21-8 win over Enterprise Bulldogs

By By Robby Atkinson/special to The Star
September 28, 2002
NEWTON Newton held the visiting Enterprise Bulldogs to only 200 yards in total offense enroute to a 21-8 victory in front of a great crowd at E.L. Morgan Field in local high school football action.
The Tigers opened the game up with a 16-play, 80-yard drive to take an early 7-0 lead over the Bulldogs. Traveone Evans took the ball in from two yards out for the touchdown and Lucas Poole added the PAT with only 4:07 left in the first quarter. Enterprise went on offense and came up with only six yards from Kelly Jimmerson and was forced to punt.
Newton took the ball and started yet another impressive drive to hopefully set up another score. Newton quarterback Laderrian Blaylock put the Tigers in excellent shape at the end of the first period on a 23-yard run to put the Tigers at the four-yard line. Anthony Rawson and Michael Clark came up with a big stop on defense to force Newton into a field goal attempt with 10:30 remaining in the second period.
Lucas Poole came on to attempt the 24-yard field goal for the Tigers, but the ball sailed wide right and the score remained 7-0. Enterprise opened up their next drive with two straight penalties that made the Enterprise coaching staff frown. "The penalties hurt us and they did a great job on both sides of the ball," Enterprise head coach Jud Gartman said.
After the fouls Enterprise went back to the running game and only came up with 14 yards and was forced to turn the ball over to Newton. The Tigers added one more score before the half to extend their lead over Enterprise. Blaylock connected with Coshune Bingham on a 23-yard strike to put Newton up 14-0 with 3:00 left in the first half.
Enterprise finally mounted some offense in the closing seconds of the second quarter on a 39 yard run by junior quarterback Adam Simpson to put the Bulldogs in the red zone with 1:12 left in the half.
Michael Swancey came on to attempt a 29-yard field goal that came up short and Newton held a 14 point lead over Enterprise.
Newton came up with a huge turnover to open up the third quarter as Philip Evans recovered the loose fumble and give the Tiger fantastic field position. Enterprise answered with an interception by Patrick McLaughlin that was returned 84 yards and give the Bulldogs their first score of the night. The PAT failed and Enterprise cut the lead to 14-6 with 9:11 remaining in the third.
The Bulldog defense forced Newton to punt on the next possession and Enterprise coughed up the ball. Evans came up with the fumble that set up a huge backbreaking score. Evans finished the small drive with a three yard touchdown to put the Tigers up 21-6 with 5:06 left in final quarter.
Enterprise scored their final two points at the end of the game on a safety that Newton gladly accepted and the Tigers went on to take the huge win. Newton improved to 4-1 overall and Enterprise fell to 4-1 on the season.
Newton returns to action against William-Sullivan for homecoming and Enterprise will host Bay Springs.