Lake football coach Tate Hanna probably put it best about playing Newton this week.
“It doesn’t really matter what the records are, their kids are going to get after us and we are going to get after them,” Hanna said.
Located less than 10 miles apart, the two teams will meet for the third straight year, this time with plenty on the line. The Hornets, now 7-2, enter the game on a high note, coming off a 34-30 win over previously undefeated and top-ranked Philadelphia. Newton comes in with a 6-3 record and is fresh off a win over Union, trying to regain their mojo that took them to a 5-0 start and top three ranking.
With a win, Lake could finish as high as second, depending on the outcome of the Scott Central and Philadelphia game on Friday. But Lake knows his team is in for a battle against the pass-happy Tigers.
“Newton is Newton, very athletic with a bunch of big-play threats,” Lake coach Tate Hanna said. “They have six or seven guys that can go the distance at any time. They are sound on defense and make big plays over there. They have been in the big games and are well tested. We have to make tackles when they catch the ball and get them off the field. We have to have them off the field as much as possible.”
Meanwhile, the Tigers are looking for playoff position as well and could be anywhere from second to fourth. Smith knows his Tigers are in for a challenge against the run-oriented Tigers.
“I know Tate and knew what he was going to do at Lake,” Smith said. “He is a great coach, and his assistant Kyle Watson is a great coach. His teams are always going to be tough, physical and sound. They are believing in what he is doing and playing with some expectations. And I expected him to come in and do that. I know they will come in extremely confident after their win against Philadelphia. But I think we are getting our legs back under us and really think we are headed for a shootout, kind of like we had against Enterprise last year.”
Amite School at NCA
The Generals enter the MAIS Class AA playoffs as the No. 4 seed and will host Amite School on Friday night in the first round.
Amite is 4-6 on the season and enters the playoffs on a three-game losing streak. But they have wins over a couple of common opponents with NCA, beating Sylva-Bay 38-6 and Ben’s Ford 36-7.
“They look a lot like us,” NCA coach Rob Roberts said. “They have played some tough teams, play good defense and look pretty scrappy. It’s a new season now and we have to bow up. I think it’s a winnable game if we hold onto the football. We can’t turn it over four times like we did on Thursday. They like to get in the shotgun and run a lot. They will run power, jet sweeps and some option stuff. They are a scrappy team.”
Roberts also said he liked NCA’s draw in the playoffs as Greenville St. Joe, Manchester and Centreville are all on the opposite side of the bracket.
Union at Enterprise, Thursday
Two struggling teams will meet on Thursday night at L.J. Davis Field in Enterprise.
Both teams enter the season with two wins as the Bulldogs are 2-8 and the Yellowjackets are 2-7. Enterprise beat Newton County 30-10 the week after the Cougars beat Union.
“They are a lot like us,” Breland said. “When you look at their sideline, they have a lot of kids in street clothes and on crutches. They are also playing a lot of younger kids like we are. I think it will come down to who has the most guts and who wants it the most on Thursday night.”
County at Northeast Jones
Newton County will travel to two-win Northeast Jones in the season finale for both teams.
Northeast Jones comes in with a 2-7 record but is fresh off of handing Mendenhall their first division loss in a 21-20 contest. Their other win is over Bay Springs (27-21).
“They have two wins but they are going to throw the ball all over the field,” Newton County coach Gene Mitchell said. “If you get pressure on the quarterback, he will come out of the pocket and hurt you with his feet. We will have to execute on offense and play assignment football on defense.”
Last year, Northeast Jones won the regular-season finale 16-6.
