Newton runs past Troup in Class 3A-II regional semi-final

CROCKETT – Newton used a punishing ground attack and a stingy defense to post a 46-13 win over Troup in a Class 3A-II Region II semi-final Friday night.

The loss was the Tigers’ first of the season, as Troup wraps up its best campaign in 21 years with a 12-1 record.

The Eagles moved to 12-1 and will face Arp in the regional final late next week.

Newton got on the board first when Deldrick Samuel broke free around he left side and jetted 50 yards for a touchdown that came with 4:51 to play in the first quarter.

The Eagles doubled their advantage following KJ Porter’s first of two touchdown runs in the game.

Porter took the hand off and ran behind the right tackle from 20-yards out on the fourth play of the second frame, which increased the Eagle advantage to 16-0.

With Newton in front 24-0, Troup got on the scoreboard with 20 ticks remaining in the first half.

Quarterback Josh Childress connected with Brett Wells, who got past the Eagle defender in the end zone, and made the grab for an 18-yard touchdown.

The point after try was no good, which resulted in Newton taking a 24-6 lead at halftime.

Newton went on to score three-straight touchdowns in the second half to claim its largest lead of the evening, 46-6, with 1:55 left in the game.

Childress then dialed up Dee Hollie, who was all alone in the middle of the field for a 76-yard catch and run that came with 1:40 to play.

After Anthony Zuniga’s point after kick, the Eagle lead was cut to 46-13.

The highlight of the night for the Tiger defense was a fumble recovery by James Pierce that shutdown Newton’s first possession of the second half after the Eagles had driven down to the Troup 27-yard line. via a methodical march that saw Newton to continue to flex its ground attack.

The Eagles amassed 405 rushing yards in 58 carries and averaged 6.98 yards per carry.

Wells led Troup in rushing by gaining 47 yards in 11 carries.

Childress completed 7-of-14 pass attempts for 209 yards and two touchdowns and an interception.

Hollie led the Maroon and White in receiving by hauling in three catches for 121 yards.

The Tigers are scheduled to lose 10seniors — Noble Kendrick, Luke Skillern, Jackson Waller, Billy Borja, Colby Flood, Juan Salinas, Caden Starkey, Logan Lockey, JW Becerra and Hayden Huml (analyst) — to graduation in the spring.