Controversial play changes momentum of game
Newton had Philadelphia right where they wanted them.
At halftime, the Tigers were up 18-7 and in control of the game. However, back-to-back touchdowns by the Tornadoes late in the third quarter proved to be the difference, as the Tigers fell to the Tornadoes 24-18 in a key district game.
Despite things looking bleak in the fourth quarters, the Newton defense stiffened to give the offense one last chance. The Tornadoes turned the Tigers away as Lawrence Morris’ pass to the end zone was batted away as time expired.
Newton High School coach Zack Grady said the game turned on a controversial call. After the Tornadoes cut the lead to 18-14, Jatarian Hudson returned an apparent fumble 35 yards for the touchdown to give the Tornadoes the lead for good.
Newton coaches were arguing that a Tiger receiver, who was hit immediately after catching a pass, was down before the ball came out. It was also unclear whether the receiver completed the catch prior to going to the ground, which could have resulted in an incomplete pass.
“We just got to get better, man. Learn from the mistakes and get better. Unbelievable,” said Newton High School coach Zack Grady. “(The call) shifted the whole momentum of the game. We just got to get as a coaching staff and as players that you’ve got to fight through that. That was terrible.”
The game got off to a great start defensively for the Tigers. After forcing three-and-outs, the Tigers finally got the big play they needed. Morris hit Isaiah Johnson for a 36-yard pass to the Philadelphia 4. As Morris was running into the end zone, he lost the ball, but Kaleb Traxler fell on it for the TD with 32 seconds left in the first quarter.
Philadelphia answered after a poor squib kick left the Tornadoes with great field position. Six plays later, the Tornadoes struck with a 22-yard touchdown pass. The extra point gave them a 7-6 lead with 10:21 left in the second quarter.
The Tiger defense made two big plays before halftime. Kezarrian Wash intercepted a tipped pass and returned it 40 yards to the Tornado 2. It took four plays, but Morris finally punched it in for the score. The two-point play failed, but Newton led 12-7 with 2:42 remaining in the half.
Tyreke Snow got in on the action, intercepting a deep throw and returning it to the Philadelphia 6. On the next play, Morris his Johnson for the 6-yard touchdown. The conversion fell just short, but the Tigers led 18-7 at halftime.
After a solid Newton drive stalled inside Philadelphia territory, the Tornadoes put together a nine-play drive covering 79 yards. It ended with a 20-yard touchdown pass. The extra point cut the lead to 18-14.
On the second play of the next drive, Morris tried to hit a receiver over the middle, but the player was hit immediately and eventually lost the ball after the falling on his knees. The whistle never blew, and Callaway sold the fumble and returned it 35 yards for the touchdown.
An interception on the next Newton play was returned to the Newton 35-yard line. A tackle for loss by Kasey Watts forced Philadelphia to take a 25-yard field goal and extend the lead to 24-18 with 11:49 to play.
Another turnover on downs gave Philadelphia a chance to take a two-possession lead, but a key sack by Desmond Moore led to a missed 44-yard field goal by the Tornadoes with 6:18 to go.
A Morris quarterback draw and a reception by Lazarius Clayton moved Newton into Philadelphia territory. The drive ended with a sack on fourth down.
The Newton defense held again, and a bad snap on the punt gave the Tigers the ball at the Philadelphia 47 with 1:32 to go in the game with no timeouts.
Tyreke Snow caught a pass over the middle for a first down at the 32. Morris went for the home run pass on the next play, but it fell incomplete with 1:03 to go. Traxler gave the Tigers new life with another catch to the 17 with 15 seconds left, but the clock stayed in motion.
As time expired, the Tigers’ final prayer went unanswered when the Tornadoes knocked the pass away.
Morris finished the game completing 19 of 33 passes for 260 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. He also had 27 yards on 10 carries with a touchdown.
Traxler finished the game with seven catches for 110 yards and his fumble recovery for a touchdown. Johnson also had 60 yards receiving on three catches with a touchdown.
Rayvion Nettles added 37 yards on four catches. Avante Flowers added 15 yards rushing on six carries and one catch for 14 yards.
Moore led the defense with 14.5 tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss and a sack. Kobe Thompson had 9 tackles and three tackles for loss. Autavious Hardy had 7.5 tackles including 4.5 tackles for loss.
Snow had 8.5 tackles, three pass breakups and an interception. He also had two catches for 29 yards on offense. Daylon Taylor also had 6.5 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a half sack.
Newton held Philadelphia to 121 yards rushing on 38 carries and 106 yards passing on 7 of 18 passing.
