With an almost entirely new offense, the Newton County Academy Generals managed just 77 yards of total offense last week against Winston Academy.
But the Generals got back to basics this week and coach Rob Roberts found something he liked.
Led by Braxton Rose’s 188-yard rushing effort, the Generals had 354 yards of total offense and took a 27-21 win over Oak Hill on Friday night in West Point.
After rushing for just 58 yards last week, the Generals found some running lanes in the Oak Hill defense and finished with 320 yards rushing on the night.
“We came out flat to start the game but picked it up and wore them down in the second half,” Roberts said. “We went back to the wishbone and basically ran the same play the whole second half. I thought the line blocked better and played better as a unit. We just started running power right at them and wore them down.”
The Generals actually trailed in the contest, as the second of two fumbles cost the Generals. On a Gunner Bounds fumble, Oak Hill scooped up the fumble and returned it 47 yards for a touchdown to give the Raiders a 7-0 lead.
But the Generals responded as Sage Gunn got loose on a 49-yard gainer to the Oak Hill 10, where he fumbled but Austin Pippin recovered in the end zone for the Generals for a touchdown. The PAT failed and NCA trailed 7-6.
The NCA defense held on the next possession and Sage Gunn returned the punt 56 yard for a touchdown. The two-point conversion failed and NCA led 12-7 at the half.
“I thought the defense played pretty well,” Roberts said. “We basically shut them out. Their first score was on a scoop and score and their other two scores were when we put in the ninth graders on offense. I thought Austin Pippin had a good game. He had a safety and a couple of big plays.”
In the second half, the Generals got going when Pippen sacked Oak Hill in the end zone for a safety.
On the ensuing kick, Lincoln Jordan returned it 52 yards to the Oak Hill 19. Rose finished off the drive with a punishing 15-yard run for his first score of the year. Ethan McDill booted the PAT and NCA led 21-7.
On Oak Hill’s next possession, the Raiders fumble and Pippen recovered it. Four plays and three hard runs by Rose later, Gunn finished off the drive with a 13-yard touchdown run. The PAT failed and NCA led 27-7.
Gunn finished the night with 104 yards rushing on eight carries and had 85 yards in return yardage for 189 total yards.
On defense, Logan Tadlock led the NCA defense with eight tackles while Kemp Alderman had two tackles for loss. Pippin and Rose also had five tackles apiece while Alderman and Pippin each had sacks. Gunn and Bounds also had interceptions.
