By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
Oct. 24, 2002
One of the area's top football matchups this week should be at Decatur Friday night when unbeaten Newton County hosts Philadelphia in a Division 5-3A contest. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
Newton County is 8-0 overall and 4-0 in the division. Philadelphia is 6-2 and 3-2.
The Cougars are averaging 33.5 points per game while allowing just 3.3. After a sub-par first half in last week's 34-0 win at Carthage, the Cougars erupted for 199 yards in the third quarter, all of which came on 22 rushes.
David Fielder had 146 yards on 14 carries last week with Darryl Mapp adding 115 yards on 20 totes.
The Cougar defense has yet to allow a score to a division opponent.
Mapp is tied for the division scoring lead with 84 points on 14 touchdowns. Philadelphia senior quarterback Tyler Threadgill is a close third with 79 points coming on 11 touchdowns, two field goals, and an extra point. Fielder and Cougar wide receiver Delvion Merrell are tied for sixth with five touchdowns apiece.
Threadgill threw for two touchdowns and ran for another in last week's 22-6 win at Southeast Lauderdale. He was 7-of-10 passing for 114 yards and had 10 rushes for 97 yards. The Tornadoes had 310 total yards, but gave up 222 in the air to the Tigers.
For the year, Threadgill is 28-of-62 passing for 395 yards and seven touchdowns. He's run the ball 83 times for 801 yards.
The series is even at two wins apiece with Newton County winning the last two meetings including a 32-15 decision last fall.
Matt Corrigan led the Tornadoes' defense at Southeast with 12 tackles and has 115 for the year. Daniel Puckett has 64 and Eric Lyons and Alan Fox both have 48.
Cameron Tawater has 12 catches for 201 yards. Chris McCurty has 380 yards on 57 rushes and Desmond Murray has 58 carries for 375 yards.
Union at
Nanih Waiya
Meeting for only the third time, a lot rides on the outcome of Friday's Region 3-1A game at Nanih Waiya.
Union is 5-1 in the league and 5-3 overall, while Nanih Waiya is 4-2 and 6-2.
Anthony Johnson leads Union's offense with 1,098 yards and 12 touchdowns on 120 carries. Quincy Patrick has 100 rushes for 437 yards and 10 touchdowns. Patrick is 31-of-86 passing for 465 yards and five touchdowns. Derrick Harris has 22 receptions for 355 yards.
Zach Robinson leads the Yellowjackets in tackles with 53. Nikos Harris has 39 and Derrick Harris has 35.
(Derrick Harris) can go up and catch it.
Daniel Lagrone had 11 tackles for the Warriors in last week's 26-8 win over Edinburg with Gabe Lagrone adding 10 and Benny Hickman nine.
For the year, Nanih Waiya quarterback Trevor Stokes has nine touchdowns with running back/wide receiver Brent Blackwell and running back Darron Hickman both having seven.
The series is even at one win apiece.
at Edinburg
The Hornets stung Sebastopol 29-8 last week with Damion Gray scoring on runs of 12 and 20 yards to ease into fourth place in Region 3-1A in scoring with 68 points. Joseph Hunt scored on a 7-yard run and threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Willie Hickmon.
LaDonovan Towner had 85 yards on nine carries and Bryan Williamson had 76 yards on just four carries. Gray picked up 68 yards on a dozen carries. Towner and Terrell Ricks both had six tackles with Justin Butler getting five.
The Hornets (5-1, 5-3) travel to Edinburg (1-5, 2-6) this week.
Lake won last year's meeting 53-14 and holds a 29-4 advantage in the series.
Kemper County
at Newton
The Tigers are 6-2 overall and 2-1 in Division 5-2A, while Kemper County is 1-7 and 1-2 heading into Friday's matchup at E.L. Morgan Field.
Newton hammered the Wildcats 43-12 a year ago.
Newton needs a win this week and one next week with Scott Central to have any shot at the division title.