No. 1 Newton Rolls to Season-Opening Rout at Bridge City

BRIDGE CITY -- Kevin Shorter scored three touchdowns as Class 2A's top-ranked Newton Eagles pulled away in the second half of a 44-20 win at Bridge City.

The win was the second in as many years vs. Bridge City for Newton, which beat the Cardinals 35-12 in the 2012 season opener.

Shorter, who committed to Texas about two weeks ago over more than two dozen other Division I FBS offers, scored on two long touchdown runs and a jump-ball pass in the end zone to end the first half and give the Eagles a 24-14 halftime lead.

Newton increased its lead to 37-13 in the fourth before a final tally with less than three minutes left produced the 24-point victory.

Newton hosts Liberty next week.