East Chambers Tries to Give State-Ranked Newton First Loss in District 10-2A D-I Bout

Winnie East Chambers Buccaneers (4-1, 2-0)
vs.
No. 3 Newton Eagles (5-0, 2-0)

7:30 p.m. Friday
Eagle Stadium, Newton

Coaches
East Chambers: Russ Sutherland
Newton: W.T. Johnston

Last week
East Chambers: def. Warren, 63-6
Newton: def. Kirbyville, 40-17

Next week
East Chambers: at Kirbyville
Newton: at Kountze

Playmakers

Winnie East Chambers

• RB Glenn Roberts, Sr.
• QB Brandon Johnson, Jr.
• WR Cody Martin, Sr.
• S Jarrod Guillory, Jr.
• OL/DL Blaine Acevedo, Sr.
• RB/LB Coby Collins, Sr.

Newton

• QB/DB D.J. Dean, Sr., 5-11, 180 (13 of 28, 277 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs; 29 carries, 322 yards, 6 TDs; 13 tackles, 1 INT, 1 forced fumble; committed to Utah)
• RB/DB/P Kevin Shorter, Jr., 6-1, 185 (54 carries, 708 yards, 12 TDs; 4 catches, 111 yards, 1 TD; 27 tackles, 1 INT; 36.3 average on 8 punts)
• RB Brandon Johnson, Jr., 5-9, 180 (62 carries, 384 yards, 5 TDs)
• MLB Corey Jenkins, Sr., 6-0, 195 (63 tackles, 3 sacks)
• DE Anthony Hadnot, Jr., 5-10, 210 (45 tackles, 5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 recovery, 1 kick block)
• SS Raylin Davis, Soph., 5-7, 155 (55 tackles)
• DE Romando Stewart, Sr., 6-2, 205 (30 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble)
• OL Robert Kenebrew, Sr., 5-8, 215
• DT Justin Williams, Jr., 6-0, 205 (28 tackles, 1 sack, 2 fumble recoveries)
• DE Chedrick Hanks, Jr., 6-0, 195 (32 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 def. TD)

Just the facts

• East Chambers averages 34.6 points per game and allows 13.6.
• Newton averages 46.0 points per game and allows 11.2.
• East Chambers running back Glenn Roberts has rushed for more than 1,000 yards in 2012 after eclipsing the 2,000-yard rushing mark in 2011.
• Quarterback D.J. Dean and running backs Kevin Shorter and Brandon Johnson have scored 25 of Newton's 34 total touchdowns this season.
• East Chambers beat Newton 39-34 in 2011 and 38-28 in 2010.
• Newton beat East Chambers four times from 2004-09.

Key matchup: Each defensive front vs. each running game. Sorry, but we can't narrow down which side of the ground-game coin is more important. Newton and East Chambers each rely on run-heavy offenses, with the Buccaneers leaning on Glenn Roberts and the Eagles using multiple ball carriers to subdue their opponents. Both teams have done well stopping opponents this season, as evidenced by their points per game allowed averages sitting below the two-touchdown threshold. But who gets the best of this matchup of stout defenses and perhaps even more stout rushing attacks? Newton could have a slight edge since its ground game is more by committee, but it's hard to bet against a workhorse like Roberts. This game could be a delight for fans who enjoy seeing what the coaching staffs cook up with their in-game X's and O's.

Don't be surprised if: This game decides the District 10-2A Division I race. East Chambers has gotten the best of Newton each of the last two seasons, so the Eagles will be set on avenging those two losses in hopes of grabbing complete control of the 10-2A D-I driver's seat. Before the season started, Newton was expected to be just as good as the Eagles have shown they are, and Kirbyville and East Chambers were considered the likely contenders. Well, Newton dispatched of Kirbyville, which has stumbled to a 1-4 start -- albeit against a strong schedule -- and with 4-1 East Chambers coming to town, this looks like it could be the de facto district championship game. Fans, buckle up for what could be a good one, especially if you like old-school, run-first offense and hard-hitting, stingy defense.