Newton’s Anthony Hadnot is the ETSN.fm + Dairy Queen Defensive Player of the Week

Friday night's Newton vs. Winnie East Chambers matchup in District 10-2A Division I featured big performances on both sides of the ball for the Eagles in a game that saw them overcome significant adversity.

Newton got huge efforts from senior tailback Brandon Johnson and senior linebacker Anthony Hadnot, two veterans that led the Eagles to a 43-24 win on a night that saw Newton lose Texas-committed senior playmaker Kevin Shorter to head and neck injuries that will likely keep him out the remainder of the regular season.

Hadnot spearheaded the Eagles' defense with 16 tackles, including six for loss, and forced two fumbles in the 19-point win that put Newton (6-0, 3-0), already the heavy favorite for the 10-2A D-I crown, in firm control of their league championship destiny. For his big-time performance, Hadnot is the ETSN.fm/Dairy Queen Defensive Player of the Week.

The 5-foot-9, 223-pound Hadnot enters Friday night's home game against Kountze with a team-leading 95 tackles, plus one sack, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery.

The big senior campaign comes as no surprise for Hadnot, who had 119 tackles, 12 sacks, five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two punt blocks, and one kick block as a junior, when Newton went 13-1 and reached the Class 2A Division I state semifinals.

Hadnot's performance against East Chambers complemented Johnson's huge night on offense. With Shorter out for the majority of the game, Johnson carried 16 times for 300 yards and three touchdowns to lift the Eagles to the 19-point victory.

The win combined with defending state champion Cameron Yoe's loss to Lago Vista to lift Newton to No. 1 in this week's Associated Press 2A poll.