Newton County falls to Class 4A Kosciusko

By By Marty Stamper / staff writer
Aug. 28, 2004
DECATUR The Newton County Cougars hung with the Kosciusko Whippets for a half Friday before falling 26-14 in the season opener for both teams.
Newton County carried a 7-6 lead into halftime, but the Whippets scored two touchdowns and a field goal in the third quarter to take control of the game.
Newton County outgained Kosciusko 146-38 in the first half, but went three-and-out on two of its three possessions in the third quarter.
"We kept our defense on the field too long," Cougars head coach Jeff Breland said. "We had too many three-and-outs. We didn't make plays when we had to make plays.
"The turning point in the game was when we got down inside the 10 and didn't score (to start the second half). They held us and then went right back down our throat."
After both teams took to the air with no success in the early going, the Cougars put together a seven-play, 80-yard scoring drive after Fred Lyons halted a Whippet threat with an interception in the end zone.
Cougar quarterback Colby Amis had three carries for 58 yards on the scoring drive, getting the touchdown on a 30-yard keeper up the middle with 5:42 remaining in the first quarter. Austin Scoggins added the extra point for a brief 7-0 lead.
It took the Whippets just 17 seconds to put their first points on the board as Chris Herron returned the kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown. Trent Adams' PAT was no good, leaving the Cougars up by a point.
The Cougars threatened to add to their lead to start the second half. Thanks to a 67-yard screen pass from Amis to Duke Hudnall, the Cougars had third-and-goal from the 2, but the Whippets stuffed Hudnall and Amis on successive carries for no gain.
"When you get down there in the red zone, you've got to come up with points and we didn't do it," Breland said. "We thought about a field goal, but when you're on the 2, you think you've got their backs to the wall.
"It didn't work out. We've got to learn from it. Kosciusko has got a good football team, but we played with them. We're proud of our team and the effort they gave. We've just got to come out and try to win one of these close ones."
Kosciusko then drove 98 yards in just five plays. Antwan Huffman, who didn't touch the ball in the first half, had runs of 19, 5, and 19 yards scoring on the final carry. The Whippets also got a 46-yard gallop around right end by Amore Winters. Winters added a two-point conversion run for a 14-7 Whippet lead with 6:30 left in the third period.
Derrick Landingham put the Whippets back in business at the NCHS 36 when he picked off an Amis pass. Six plays later, Taylor Putt booted a 24-yard field goal for a 17-7 Kosciusko lead.
Herron made it 23-7 with 4.4 seconds left in the third quarter when he raced 59 yards on a keeper around right end. Putt's point after hit the left upright and was no good.
The Cougars closed to within 23-14 with 6:15 left in the contest when Amis scored on a 9-yard keeper. Scoggins added the point after, leaving the Cougars down by nine points. The 9-yard scoring drive was set up when Whippet punter Cody Reynolds fielded a low snap on his knee and the play was whistled dead.
The Whippets fielded an onside kick and got a 28-yard field goal from Putt for a 26-14 lead with 1:45 remaining.