The Newton County Cougars went into Friday’s homecoming matchup with Enterprise knowing they had to stop the Bulldogs’ potentially potent ground game. However, that task proved to be more difficult than expected as the Bulldogs rolled up 436 rushing yards while handing the Cougars a 30-10 loss at Cougar Stadium.
Newton County fell to 1-5 on the season one week after earning their first win over cross- county rival Union.
Enterprise was winless before Friday, having been outscored by an average of 30 points in their previous five games, but the Cougar defense could not corral their backfield trio of Zach Kyle, Kaleb Fisher and River Kidd.
The Bulldogs, who have had kicking woes all season long, kicked onside kicks throughout the game, including on the opening kickoff which was recovered by the Cougars’ Tucker Hillman at the Newton County 47-yard line.
Marcus Wash’s 28-yard reception, which was helped by an Enterprise face mask penalty took the Cougars down to the Bulldogs’ 11-yard line. That set up kicker Garrett Mills’ 28-yard field goal to give the Cougars a 3-0 lead with 7:27 remaining in the first quarter.
Enterprise (1-5) then went on a 90-yard drive capped off by Kyle’s five-yard touchdown run and Fisher’s two-point conversion run put the Bulldogs ahead for good just before the start of the second quarter.
After the Cougars were stopped on their ensuing drive, Mills’ 44-yard punt pinned the Bulldogs inside their own 5. It looked as though Enterprise would go on another long drive, but quarterback Ridge Kidd fumbled near the goal line and Ethan Gentry recovered for Newton County at the 2-yard line to keep the Cougars within a score going into halftime.
The Bulldogs opened the second half with an 80-yard drive highlighted by Kyle’s 45-yard run that set up Christian Milsap’s 3-yard touchdown run at the 8:26 mark.
It didn’t take long for the Cougars to pull back within one score when freshman Carlonte Walker returned the ensuing kickoff back 85 yards down the right sideline for a touchdown. Mills’ PAT kick cut the deficit to six. However, the Cougars’ joy was short-lived as it only took two plays for the Bulldogs to stretch the lead on Fisher’s 66-yard touchdown run at the 7:35 mark.
The Cougars recovered the ensuing onside kick at their own 48. Wash’s 15-yard run and a 15-yard pass interference penalty pushed the Cougars down to the Enterprise 25, but Trey Beech picked off quarterback Donavon McCoy to end the drive.
Late in the third, the Cougars again drove deep into Enterprise territory but couldn’t convert on a 4th and 7 at the Enterprise 20.
The Bulldogs then went on a clock-eating drive that was capped off by Milsap’s seven-yard touchdown run. Enterprise then recovered the onside kick at the 3:25 mark to end any chance for a miraculous Newton County comeback.
Wash led the Cougar offense with 31 yards on 13 carries as the Cougars only managed 88 yards of total offense.
Spencer Blalock led the Cougar offense with 16 total tackles and Jarius Huddleston added 15.
Kyle led the Bulldogs with 163 yards on 20 carries and Fisher finished with 136 yards on 18 carries.
The Cougars will go on the road to open their 4A Region 5 schedule at Mendenhall on Friday.
