Miguel Evans picks up a first down for the Cougars. (Eddie Thorne/Special to the Appeal)
On the third play of the game for the Newton County offense, ninth grade quarterback Damon Mapp dislocated his hip, a move that eventually brought both teams to the middle of the field to pray for the young man.
Unfortunately for the Cougars, it was more than a quarter before they responded as Northeast Jones built an early lead and took a 41-7 win over the Cougars in the season finale for both teams.
Newton County finishes the season with a 1-10 record and finishes the season on a six-game losing streak.
“When Damon dislocated his him, it sort of changed some of the plans we had,” Newton County coach Gene Mitchell said. “It took us a while to get past that because he was in a lot of pain. We were sort of wide-eyed for the first six minutes of the game and fell behind two scores. But we finally settled down and played as hard as we have played for the rest of the first half.”
After leading 21-7 at the half, Northeast Jones added two quick scores in the second half and took the 34-point win. Newton’s County’s only score came from Miquel Evans in the first half.
“They hit us with two quick scores to start the second half to put us out of it,” Mitchell said. “We just never responded. I thought the kids played hard the entire game. The score didn’t indicate that, but we gave about as good a effort as we have had all year.”
Mitchell was quick to point to the importance of the upcoming offseason.
“We can’t use our youth as an excuse any more,” Mitchell said. “We have to get those guys bigger and stronger. The best thing about that is, that’s where you learn a lot about intensity and effort and that’s what we will focus on the entire off season. It’s obvious that we have to get bigger and stronger in the offseason when we start lifting weights. It starts in the weight room.”
