By By Marty Stamper/EMG sports assistant
October 19, 2002
CARTHAGE The Newton County Cougars followed up their worst half of football this fall with their best quarter of the year as they took a 34-0 Division 5-3A win Friday night.
Worst being a relative term, the Cougars still carried a 7-0 lead into halftime on an extremely sloppy field. Carthage did have a 95-71 total yards advantage at the break.
A trio of defensive stands kept the Tigers off the scoreboard before intermission. In the first quarter, Newton County stopped quarterback Shawn Tangle for a yard loss on fourth-and-2 at the NCHS 31. Later in the opening period, Tangle was stuffed for no gain on fourth-and-1 at the NCHS 48. In the second quarter, the Cougars held Demar Gardner for no gain on fourth-and-1 at the NCHS 15.
The only touchdown in the first half came when Newton County's Terrance Patrick blocked a Daniel Holleyman punt with Willie Windham scooping up the loose ball at the Tigers' 21 and taking it to the end zone with 7:20 to go before halftime. Taylor Nichols added the extra point.
The Cougars barely missed getting a block on the previous play and were flagged for running into the kicker, but Carthage chose to take the 5-yard penalty and kick again.
Newton County took control in the third quarter, running the ball 22 times for 199 and getting three touchdowns to take a 27-0 lead.
On their first possession of the second half, the Cougars covered 60 yards on seven plays with Darryl Mapp scoring off right tackle from a yard out.
On their next possession, the Cougars needed eight plays to put together a 79-yard scoring drive. Mapp found the end zone again from a yard out. Nichols' extra point put Newton County up 21-0 with 4:40 remaining in the third period. David Fielder had a 41-yard run to the Carthage 17 for the drive's big gainer.
Newton County scored again on a seven-play, 61-yard drive with Fielder reaching the end zone on a 7-yard run. Nichols' PAT failed.
Newton County outgained Carthage 280-61 in the second half with every Cougar inch coming on the ground. For the game, the Cougars held a 351-156 yardage advantage.
Newton County got its final touchdown on an 8-yard run by Mapp with 6:02 left in the game. The Cougars covered 71 yards on the drive with Fielder picking up 35 on one carry.
For the game, Fielder had 140 yards on 13 carries with Mapp adding 121 yards on 21 rushes.
With its fourth straight region shutout, Newton County improved to 8-0 overall and into a first-place tie with Heidelberg in 5-3A at 4-0. Carthage fell to 2-3 and 2-6.
The Cougars host Philadelphia, 6-2, Friday.