Newton rolls past Kountze 60-0

Dylan Busby publisher@jasperconews.com Jasper County News NEWTON — The Newton Eagles delivered another commanding performance Friday night, overwhelming the Kountze Lions 60-0 behind an explosive rushing attack, opportunistic defense and another impressive showing from sophomore quarterback Izayah Foster. Newton controlled the contest from the opening possession, combining big plays with relentless defensive pressure to keep Kountze off the scoreboard. Foster got the Eagles rolling with a touchdown pass to senior Cameron Hunter, giving Newton an early 7-0 advantage. The sophomore quarterback quickly made his presence felt on defense, intercepting a Kountze pass and returning it for a touchdown. A successful two-point conversion extended the lead to 15-0. Kountze briefly threatened to answer, moving the football behind several Newton offsides penalties. However, a holding penalty erased the Lions’ momentum and helped stall one of their most promising possessions. Newton nearly added another spectacular touchdown when Foster connected on a deep pass that turned into a long scoring play, but a penalty wiped the score off the board. The Eagles hardly slowed down. Senior running back Kendray “KJ” Porter Jr. broke through the Kountze defense for another touchdown, and Foster added the two-point conversion to push Newton ahead 23-0. Newton’s defense continued creating opportunities. After two deep incompletions and a high snap forced the Eagles to punt, a muffed return gave Newton another scoring opportunity. Senior Raylen Elam recovered the loose football and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown, helping extend the advantage to 31-0. Porter continued punishing the Lions on the ground, adding another touchdown as Newton steadily pulled away. The senior standout finished with 118 rushing yards and three touchdowns on just 10 carries, averaging an impressive 11.8 yards per attempt. Foster was equally dangerous, completing six of 11 passes for 76 yards and a touchdown while adding 68 rushing yards and another score on just three carries. He also recorded two interceptions, returning them for a combined 78 yards. Hunter led Newton’s receivers with three catches for 52 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, sophomore Solomon Bray delivered a dominant performance with 10 tackles, including nine tackles for loss and a sack. Camden Will added five tackles and two tackles for loss. Newton finished with 315 yards of offense, including 239 rushing yards on just 17 attempts. Sophomore Louis Sanford contributed a 32-yard touchdown run, while Porter added a 40-yard field goal. The Eagles scored eight touchdowns and recorded 17 tackles for loss, completing a dominant shutout that showcased their explosive offense and suffocating defense as the postseason approaches.