After a lackluster performance last week, the Newton County Cougars responded to coach Bobby Bass’ plea to play with more effort and intensity.
The Cougars used a dominating defense and took a 50-0 win over Northeast Jones to cap off a perfect regular season.
The Cougars finish the regular season with a 9-0 record and finish as Division 5-4A champions. The Cougars will now begin the Class 4A playoffs and host Purvis in a first-round contest on Friday.
After trailing 11-2 to Florence last week, Bass challenged his team to play with more intensity against Northeast Jones.
“I thought we played a lot better,” Bass said. “We played harder than we did last week, and I was pleased with that. We played better in all phases of the game. We were better on offense, better defensively and better on special teams. We played better in every phase of the game and when we do that, we see what happens.”
The Cougars scored on their first possession as they went 71 yards in eight plays. The Cougars capped the drive off as Damon Mapp hit Tyron Henderson on a 17-yard touchdown pass. Lee Hill’s PAT was good, and County led 7-0, a score that held through the end of the first quarter.
The Cougars got to start the second quarter and went to the air again as Mapp hit Henderson on a 40-yard touchdown pass with 11:25 left in the half. Carlonte Walker converted the two-point conversion on the swinging gate as Newton County led 15-0.
After a three-and-out by Northeast, the Cougars put together a time-consuming drive as Carlois Walker scored on a 2-yard run with 6:03 left in the half. Hill’s PAT was good, and County led 22-0 at the half.
“I liked our effort a lot more,” Bass said. “We played with more intensity and more pep. I thought Kaleb Blackwell coming back really helped us on defense. He’s going to grade out at 100 percent every time. He goes full speed on every play and that helps. Offensively, I thought we were better up front. I thought it waste of our better efforts up front on offense.”
The Cougars put any thoughts of a Northeast Jones comeback to rest to start the second half as Carlonte Walker returned the opening kick 81 yards for a touchdown. Walker’s PAT gave County a 29-0 lead.
After a three-and-out by Northeast, County went 48 yards in five plays as Mapp hit Henderson on a 22-yard touchdown pass with 7:52 left in the third. Hill’s PAT was good, and County led 36-0.
The Cougars added two more scores in the fourth quarter. The first one was a 4-yard run by Deyvon May to cap off an 11-play, 82-yard drive. The second was a 1-yard run by L.T. Phillips. Hill hit both PATs for the final of 50-0.
Newton County had 372 yards of total offense. Mapp was 7-of-11 passing for 109 yards and three TDs. Carlois Walker had 108 yards rushing on 15 carries, while May had 94 yards on 14 carries. Henderson had three catches for 70 yards.
On defense, Kaleb Blackwell had seven tackles and two assists, while Collin Crowder had six tackles and two assists. Cam McDonald had six tackles and four assists. Hayze West had five tackles and two assists. Jamario Ickom had four solo tackles and two assists, while Tylan McNichols had four tackles and one assist. Miguel Evans had four solo tackles and four assists while Henderson, R.K. Cain, Wilson Jackson, Josh Blalock, Will Hillman and Kyle Garrison each had three solo tackles. Blalock also had an interception for the Cougars while Hillman had a fumble recovery.
