After a tough season opening loss to Henry County, Newport has rolled off three consecutive wins, the latest a 28-15 victory in Florence over Boone County.
With Newport knocking on the door of the end zone and a 20-15 lead, the Rebels stuffed the Wildcats at the goal line. But they had bigger issues to deal with, Rebels standout quarterback Jamar Hocker exited the game earlier in the second quarter and did not return due to injury.
Instead of letting the turnover on downs deflate them, the Wildcats turned the tables back on Boone. Backup quarterback Mason Hessling and the Rebels were facing 99 yards in front of them. The drive never really got started, a fumbled snap and subsequent Wildcats recovery and touchdown stretched Newport’s lead to 13, 28-15.
“Our kids, you see it, it’s momentum swings and that’s what we roll with. It helps and it hurts,” Wildcats head coach Ryan Hahn said.
With momentum on the side of Newport, the Rebels offense battled back and put Newport’s defense on its heels with running backs Braxton Graves and Josh Wick gaining double digit yards on the ground, respectively.
The Wildcats kept the duo out of the end zone, stuffing Boone runs of third and fourth-and-goal from the one, with 7:46 remaining in the fourth and keeping the Rebels scoreless in the second half.
Two minutes before Hocker had to leave the game, he followed Graves’ five-yard TD run to begin the second quarter with a three-yard score of his own. The score was set up by a blocked punt by Shek Diaw, which gave the Rebels possession inside the Wildcats 10-yard line.
Boone County head coach Bryson Warner believes Hocker’s departure did not affect his team.
“No. Our guys still played, and we played them (Newport) because we knew they were tough last year. They are well-coached, are physical and are big and that’s how we get better,” Warner said. “Jamar’s a heck of a football player, but it’s football and it’s going to happen. You’ve got to be prepared and we weren’t as prepared as we needed to be without Jamar. Mason came in and did the best he could and that’s all we could ask for.”
For the Wildcats, Rodzion Thompson powered the offense with 118 total yards, including a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, blazing down the sideline for six and giving Newport the lead for good in the second quarter.
“Just followed my blocks and followed my teammates, that’s what you gotta do. I was ready for it, though. I trust my line and trust my wide receivers,” Thompson said.
The Wildcats speed and athleticism is starting to pay dividends.
“I told somebody earlier this year that we have the speed and we have the size. He’s (Thompson) just a great athlete. And he’s just getting acclimated as this is his first year at running back, getting him going and figuring it out” Hahn said.
Newport (3-1) heads to face fellow 1A opponent Ludlow next week while Boone County (1-2) meets 6A foe Paul Laurence Dunbar in Florence.
Newport 28, Boone County, 15
Newport – 7-14-7-0-28
Boone County – 0-15-0-0–15
Scoring Plays
1st Quarter
(N) Lee 3-yard run (5:11) 2-pt conversion failed
2nd Quarter
(BC) Graves 5-yard run (11:55) Judd kick
(BC) Hocker 3-yard run (8:48) Hall 2-pt conversion
(N) Thompson 90-yard kickoff return (8:35) Porter 2-pt conversion
(N) Lee 1-yard run (6:55) 2-pt conversion failed
3rd Quarter
(N) Buck-Barber fumble recovery (7:28) Lee 2-pt conversion