Newton football coach Jeffrey Crosby may not have won a football game in his first year as a head coach, but that has not dampened his spirits at all.
Crosby and the Tigers have had a good offseason and come into the 2025 season with a revamped schedule that offers several chances to break a 22-game losing streak that dates back to the tail end of the 2022 season.
Newton will get its first taste of live action on Aug. 22 when they play St. Andrew’s and Forest in a jamboree.
“We played Forest in my first season and they beat us 48-0 and I want to see how we match up with them,” Crosby said. “I want to be able to see how far we have come since I got here. Both of these teams will test us.”
The Tigers will then open the season at home against Choctaw Central on Aug. 29. The Class 4A Warriors went 6-4 last year and made the playoffs, losing to Itawamba in the first round.
“When I first got here, we played Choctaw Central and again, I wanted to see how far we have come,” Crosby said. “It’s a real measuring stick game for us. We have had a whole year to prepare and get bigger, faster and stronger and put in a system. They are going to be big up front and have a couple of good athletes. It’s going to be early in the season and we are going to have to be in better shape than they are.”
Week two of the regular season brings Class 1A Mount Olive, who gave up 480 points last year and went 0-10.
“We gave up 449 points and that was a school record, and I think they gave up 480 points,” Crosby said. “They have looked good in 7-on-7 this summer but that really doesn’t mean anything. I’m really good friends with the coach and I feel like it’s going to be a clash of giants because he knows me, and I know him. He knows what I do, and I know what he does. In the end, it’s going to come down to a clash of Jimmies and Joes. And if that’s the case, that’s a game that we should win.”
On Sept. 12, the Tigers will hit the road for the first time of the season as they go to Quitman.
“That’s a game that I put on the schedule because I felt like we should either be 2-0 or at the worst 1-1,” Crosby said. “They dropped down and are probably one of the top schools in Class 3A. They are going to be very physical and going to be really athletic. It’s going to be another measuring stick game for us. If we can go in and compete with them, I think it will be a huge morale boost for us and for the community as well.”
On Sept. 19, Newton will host Southeast Lauderdale, who went 2-9 last year and gave up 401 points.
“That’s homecoming for me and they have really struggled the last couple of seasons,” Crosby said. “It’s another game that is nearby and I felt like it was a team that we could compete with and were in the same sort of situation that we are in. We will have about 35 to 38 kids on the roster, and they will have about 45, maybe. I think it’s a game that we should be okay in and maybe able to win.”
On Sept. 26, Newton will host Class 1A Leake County in their last non-district game before division play begins.
“They played for the division championship last year and lost to Taylorsville,” Crosby said. “They went from being the bottom of the barrel to playing for division titles. I know got a lot better last year. It’s another guy that I’m good friends with. We played them my first spring here and I want to see what the difference is between us. I know they are a 1A school, but they are very big and very athletic and are going to be well coached.”
Newton will then host rival Lake on Oct. 3
“Everybody says that they are loaded for bear,” Crosby said. “They still have the running back and the quarterback is going to help again this year. They are going to be big up front, and I really expect the running back to do a lot of the work. I thought that was one of our better defensive games. They scored twice on defense and on special teams.”
On Oct. 10, Newton will host Pelahatchie in a rare matchup between the two schools. The Chiefs went 3-8 last season.
“I really don’t know what they are going to have,” Crosby said. “I know they have a good running back. I think they were a little down last year and struggled a little bit. They are new in the district and I think they are going to be competitive. It’s one of those games that if we are able to get some wins early, it’s a game we should have a better chance at being competitive in.”
Then the Tigers will take on perennial powerhouse Scott Central on Oct. 17.
“I think they graduated about 20 seniors from last year and have to be down at some point,” Crosby said. “But they are still Scott Central. They have been rolling for years now. It’s going to be one of those tough games because our kids know their kids. The kids are a lot closer than people realize.”
On Oct. 24, Newton will travel to Puckett to close out district play.
“They have a new coach and have been down the last several years,” Crosby said. “I think they are going to be a running team. It’s another game that I think we can be competitive in. Again, I think if we can have some success early, it could be an interesting game.”
The Tigers end the season with Richton, who went 1-8 last year.
“It’s a non-division game and hopefully, we are preparing for a playoff game,” Crosby said. “It will be senior night and you hope you get to play all of your seniors and also get to play some of the younger kids as well. If you are going to the playoffs, you want to go in healthy.”
2025 Newton High School Schedule
Aug. 29 Choctaw Central
Sept. 5 Mount Olive
Sept. 12 at Quitman
Sept. 19 SE Lauderdale
Sept. 26 at Leake County
Oct. 3 Lake
Oct. 10 Pelahatchie
Oct. 17 at Scott Central
Oct. 24 at Puckett
Oct. 30 Richton
