Newton County Cougars start season with a bang

By By Marty Stamper/EMG sports assistant
August 31, 2002
DECATUR The Newton County Cougars started their 2002 football season with a big bang Friday night as Delvion Merrell fielded the opening kickoff at his 8, broke free from the pack near his 30, and motored 92 yards for a quick touchdown in the Cougars' 28-6 win over Forest.
Tommy Strange added the extra point for a 7-0 lead with just 14 seconds elapsed.
The Cougars forced Forest to punt and then covered 80 yards on eight plays to double their advantage to 14-0. Darryl Mapp had runs of 29 and 34 yards on the drive with the 34-yard romp to the 1 setting up a touchdown plunge by David Fielder with 6:58 remaining in the opening period.
The Cougars took to the air for their third touchdown of the opening period as Colby Amis hooked up with Kennard Johnson for a 53-yard score. Johnson got behind the Bearcat secondary, juggled the ball momentarily, then pulled it in and raced to the end zone. Strange's PAT made it 21-0 with 2:10 still left in the opening period.
Forest got its only touchdown on a 76-yard drive that followed Johnson's score and ended on a 6-yard scoring toss from Matt Reynolds to Prentiss Vivians with 9:50 to go in the second quarter. The extra point try by Juan Alvarez was wide left.
The Cougars answered with a nine-play, 46-yard touchdown drive following a 44-yard kickoff return by Ken Windham. Fielder got his second touchdown of the night on a 2-yard run with 5:22 to go before halftime. Strange's extra point gave Newton County a 28-6 lead and ended the scoring for the night.
At halftime, Newton County had a 218-88 total yardage advantage over Forest.
The Cougars turned the second half over to their defense which yielded only 45 yards and one first down after intermission.
Newton County let one scoring chance go by the wayside midway through the third quarter following an interception of a Reynolds pass by Trellis Skinner at the Forest 48. Mylan Anderson's bid for a 53-yard field goal fell short with 2:36 to go in the third period.
The Cougars wasted another scoring threat following a blocked punt at the Bearcat 20. After the drive stalled at the 5, Strange was wide right on a 22- yard field goal attempt with 10:26 left in the game.
The Cougars had first-and-goal at the Forest 10 when time ran out.
Newton County finished with 316 total yards with 254 coming on 46 rushes. Mapp had 128 yards on 17 rushes, Windham gained 37 yards on four runs, and Fielder gained 28 yards on 10 carries. Amis was 2-of-8 for 62 yards.
Vivians led Forest with 73 yards on 12 carries. The Bearcats had 133 total yards with 74 coming on 23 rushes.
Newton County, 1-0, hosts Ridgeland next Friday, while Forest, 0-1, hosts Neshoba Central.