PALESTINE -- Newton scored the first 28 points of Friday's Class 3A Division II, Region III semifinal playoff game and cruised past Franklin, 49-21, at Wildcat Stadium in Palestine.

Calum Foster rushed for 206 yards on just 18 carries and scored four touchdowns in the game. Jace Thomas was the Eagles' second-leading carrier with 62 yards and the opening score.

Newton moved to 10-3 and will play Rogers next week in the Region III championship round. The game will be played at Woodforest Bank Stadium in Shenandoah.

Franklin ended its season with a 10-2 record.

Rogers defeated Crockett, 51-28, Friday.

The Eagles' defense shut Franklin out for the first 18 minutes of Friday's game. In that span, Foster had two scoring runs of 15 yards each. Thomas had a 20-yard touchdown run and Gabe Foster powered in from six yards out.

Franklin answered with Morgan Brewer's 31-yard touchdown run, the final score of the first half. The Lions briefly cut the lead down to 28-14 on Todd Johnson's 4-yard touchdown with 5:01 remaining in the third quarter, but Calum Foster ripped off a 77-yard score less than 30 seconds later and Texas A&M commitment Roney Elam put the Eagles way ahead once again with a 48-yard scoop and score.

Newton's collective backfield racked up 350 yards on 45 carries, an average of 8.75 yards per carry.

Elam passed for 45 yards on a three of seven night with one interception.

[Stats courtesy, Beaumont Enterprise]

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