Newton Trounces Daingerfield, 79-12 to Advance to State Semifinal

LUFKIN -- It was the same story, different team for Newton on Thursday evening.

Daingerfield became the latest team to suffer a playoff beatdown at the hands of the Eagles, falling 79-12 in a 3A D-II state quarterfinal game at Abe Martin Stadium.

Although Jakobie Cravier's 57-yard touchdown run early in the first quarter gave promise of a close game, cutting the Newton (13-0) lead to one, it would be all the Tigers could get in the first half. Newton responded by reeling off 39 unanswered points to end the half, led by four touchdowns (three rushing, one receiving) from running back Darwin Barlow.

Barlow finished with 118 yards rushing on 16 carries and five total touchdowns. He also added 114 yards receiving on just four catches.

The victory marked the 28th in a row for Newton, looking to defend its state championship from a season ago.

“Tonight, our kids were amped up," coach W.T. Johnston said. "This is the most ready I’ve seen them to play in a while. They had respect for Daingerfield because they’d heard about them through the years.”

It was a slow start for the Eagles, who actually fumbled at the 4-yard line on their opening drive. That would have little impact in the long run, as Daingerfield (9-4) fumbled on its ensuing possession, giving the ball back to Newton at the 7. Tamauzia Brown scored the game's first touchdown on the next play.

Newton's last touchdown of the quarter came on a trick play. Brown took what appeared to be a reverse, but instead dropped back to pass, hitting Dominique Seastrunk for a 47-yard touchdown.

After Barlow scored on a 38-yard reception that included a juke at the end to put Newton up 40-6, most figured it would be the last touchdown of the half. Only 37 seconds remained when the Eagles line up for the kick. However, Daingerfield muffed the return, allowing Seth Craft to recover at the 15. That enabled Barlow to score his fourth touchdown of the half a few plays later and send Newton into halftime up 46-6.

“We practice it all the time, but we save it for the playoffs," Barlow said of his touchdown catch. "Coach was like, ‘This is you chance to score. Catch it and get upfield.’ Josh gave it to me right on the spot and I was ready to go.”

The Eagles finished with 605 yards. But as great as the offense was, the defense was equally impressive. Daingerfield's only two touchdowns of the evening came on big chunks of yardage, runs of 57 and 75 yards. Take those away and the Tigers finish with just 158 total yards.

Maliak Metoyer was the star defensively. After he came away with an interception to end the first half, he forced and recovered a fumble in the fourth quarter.

“That man right there is a crazy boy, but when he’s on the football field he shows out," defensive lineman James Sylvester said. "People are sleeping on him. If they would give him a chance, they would not be disappointed. He’s a good player.”

After the fumble, already up 79-12, Newton opted to kick a field goal on first down. The Eagles missed, but Johnston said he wanted to give the ball back to Daingerfield.

“I was trying not to score," he said. "They didn’t want to tackle and I wanted to get out of the rain. We were trying to just get it over with.”

Newton has now outscored its opponents 276-31 in four playoff games. The Eagles advance to the 3A D-II state semifinal, where they will face East Bernard at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Texan Drive Stadium in Porter.

Riding a 28-game winning streak and defeating opponents by the margin it has so far in the playoffs, Newton has every reason to believe it will win its second title in as many seasons.

“We’re confident that we’re going," Sylvester said. "You’ve seen the score. We blew them boys out. We’re going back and we’re going to win."

Newton 79, Daingerfield 12

Class 3A Division II, Region III Final
At Abe Martin Stadium, Lufkin

Daingerfield    6    0     6   0   –    12
Newton     20      26    26    7    –    79

First Quarter
NEW – Tamauzia Brown 7 run (Caleb Colon kick), 8:08.
DAN—Jakobie Craver 57 run (two-point failed), 7:22.
NEW—Darwin Barlow 2 run (two-point failed), 3:47
NEW—Dominique Seastrunk 47 pass from Brown (Colon kick), 1:49
Second Quarter
NEW—Josh Foster 6 run (Colon kick), 7:24.
NEW—Barlow 1 run (two-point failed), 3:33.
NEW – Barlow 38 pass from Foster (Colon kick), 0:37.
NEW—Barlow 11 run (two-point failed), 0:18.
Third Quarter
NEW—Brown 21 pass from Foster (kick failed), 9:39.
NEW—Barlow 53 pass from Foster (Colon kick), 7:52.
NEW—DeAnthony Gatson 4 run (two-point failed), 4:24.
DAN—75 run from Craver (two-point failed), 4:08.
NEW—Kevin Watson 2 run (Colon kick), 2:50.
Fourth Quarter
NEW—Watson 10 run (Colon kick), 9:43.

                                     DAN                  NEW
First Downs                     6                       27
Total Yards                      290                   605
Rushes-Yards             27-228                54-381
Passing Yards                 62                     224
Comp.-Att.-Int.             7-23-3              10-18-0
Punts-Avg.                    9-35.8              2-33.0
Fumbles-Lost                  3-3                   2-2
Penalties-Yards             4-40                  4-40

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Daingerfield, Jakobie Cravier 13-197, Jakauri Woods 9-31, Tyrese Grant 1-2, Zaylon Jeter 4-(-2). Newton, Darwin Barlow 16-118, Val Fowler 9-72, DeAnthony Gatson 7-70, Kevin Watson 7-56, Josh Foster 7-36, Tamauzia Brown 2-19, Nate Williams 2-9, Zach Gulley 3-2, Corey Foster 1-(-1).
PASSING— Daingerfield, Woods 6-21-2--49, Jeter 1-1-0--13, Trevanta Royal 0-1-1--0. Newton, Foster 7-15-0--164, Brown 1-1-0--47, Williams 2-2-0--13.
RECEIVING—Daingerfield, Grant 1-36, Jeter 1-22, Woods 1-13, Royal 1-(-6), Caver 3-(-3).  Newton, Barlow 4-114, Dominique Seastrunk 2-70, Brown 2-27, Robbie Phillips 2-13.