PREVIEW: Newton Set to Face DeMarvion Overshown, Arp
CLASS 3A DIVISION II
Region III Bi-District Playoff
Newton Eagles (9-0)
vs.
Arp Tigers (4-5)
7:30 p.m. Thursday
Wolf Stadium, San Augustine
Coaches
- Newton: W.T. Johnston
- Arp: Dale Irwin
Last week
- Newton: def. Frankston, 47-0
- Arp: def. Harleton, 31-14
Next week
- Winner faces either Rice or Bruceville-Eddy, area playoffs
Playmakers
Newton
- WR/DB Tamauzia Brown, Jr., 6-1, 170 (33 catches, 492 yards, 9 TDs; 28 carries, 331 yards, 4 TDs; 23 tackles, 1 for loss, 10 INTs)
- RB Darwin Barlow, Jr., 6-0, 190 (118 carries, 1,246 yards, 25 TDs; 9 catches, 103 yards, 1 TD)
- LB Corbin Foster, Sr., 6-0, 220 (127 tackles, 4 for loss, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 3 recoveries)
- QB/DB Josh Foster, Jr., 6-1, 160 (71-of-110, 1,126, 17 TDs, 4 INTs; 44 carries, 376 yards, 8 TDs; 32 tackles)
- DL/LB Jadrian McGraw, Jr., 6-0, 185 (66 tackles, 3 for loss, 6 sacks, 2 INTs, 1 fumble recovery)
- DL James Sylvester, So., 6-5, 215 (48 tackles, 5 for loss, 5 sacks)
- OL Caiden Walker, Jr., 6-4, 276
Arp
- WR/DB DeMarvion Overshown, Sr., 6-4, 200 ( committed to Texas)
- RB/LB Demontrae Wade, Sr., 6-0, 206
- OL/DL Blake Hays, Jr., 6-2, 285
- WR/DB Tren Jones, Soph., 6-2, 160
- QB/LB Dakota Shores, Sr., 6-0, 180
- OL/DL Kennard Williams, Sr., 5-8, 215
- QB/LB Logan Shuttlesworth, Jr., 6-0, 170
- RB/DB Caleb Wright, Jr., 5-9, 175
Just the facts
- Newton's 2017 opponents have a cumulative record of 38-48 (.442).
- Arp's 2017 opponents have a cumulative record of 48-42 (.533).
- Newton has allowed 76 points this season, an average of 8.4 per game. It has also pitched four consecutive shutouts.
- Eagles running back Darwin Barlow is averaging 10.6 yards per carry.
- Newton defensive back Tamauzia Brown leads all of East Texas with 10 interceptions this season.
- Arp gives up 21 points per game on average and scores only 16.4.
- Arp's DeMarvion Overshown is ranked as the 50th best player in the country, according to ESPN.
- This is a rematch of a 2016 playoff game, which the Tigers won, 13-6.
Key matchup: Darwin Barlow against the Arp defense. Arp, despite losing more games than it has won, has been solid on defense all year. However, Barlow has proven to be a potent offensive threat.
He has been held under 100 yards three times this season, but two of those times he failed to reach 10 carries. He is averaging 10.6 yards per carry, meaning he usually gets the Eagles a first down when he is called upon. This is incredibly useful for moving the ball and managing the clock.
Arp, with star player DeMarvion Overshown, has allowed just 21 points per game this season. However, unless it can find a way to slow Barlow down, it is in danger of allowing more than that. Not only that, but it is also in danger of seeing its season come to a close.
Don't be surprised if: DeMarvion Overshown carries the Tigers. Outside of Overshown, the Tigers don't seem to have many threats. He has carried them all season, on both sides of the field.
He will be involved on defense, forcing as many turnovers and making stops where he can. Then, he will take over on offense, where he can score on the ground or by catching a pass. As if that weren't enough, he has also proven to be a weapon on special teams this season, so Newton must watch out on kickoff and punt returns.
He is the best player in East Texas for a reason. Even though that might not translate to a Tiger victory, it will certainly make this game worth watching.