Playoffs Still Insight

Newton falls to Union Grove, playoff hopes still alive

November 1, 2009

By Josh Briggs

MCDONOUGH - Teams that live and die by the big play do so knowing the rewards often outweigh the risks. Turns out the risks weren't worth it Friday for Newton as Union Grove turned two botched punt returns into 14 points en route to a 21-19 win.

"It's very frustrating. We thought we did everything right," Newton coach Nick Collins said. "I think our game plan was solid on both sides but it's like I said during the week. It came down to who was going to make the big plays and get turnovers. We made the big plays but they got the turnovers."

Turnovers and penalties hurt the Rams in the first half. Two Ram fumbles led to 14 Union Grove points and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty turned out to cost Newton a chance on a two-point conversion.

"We talked about being aggressive - about taking control and about not letting them bully us," Collins said. "Our kids came out and tried to do that but again, understanding how to do that is important. In the end, we're responsible for ourselves and we had to get control of that."

The Rams led 12-7 with less than a minute to go until halftime but a muffed punt return set the Wolverines up inside the 25-yard line and they scored to take a 14-12 lead. The Rams played from behind from then on.

"You ask those guys to take risks and be aggressive and you expect them to know when to and when not to but you have to remember, they're just kids," Collins said. "The kid was trying to make a play. That's what he's back there to do is make a play and that happens."

Union Grove struck first. With 4:28 remaining in the first quarter, the Wolverines took advantage of a Newton fumble at their own 21-yard line when Ty Moore hit Jordan Aikins for a 21-yard touchdown pass. With the PAT, the wolverines led 7-0.

Newton would answer on its next drive. After a 46-yard kickoff return by Akeem Hunt gave the Rams the ball at Union Grove's 40-yard line, the Rams picked up a key first down on a pass interference call. Torrian Hunte ran it twice for 12 and four yards to move the ball near the goal line before quarterback Tyree Williams punched it in. The Rams missed the PAT and trailed 7-6 with 1:45 to go in the first.

Union Grove turned the ball over on downs on its next possession and The Rams capitalized immediately.

Hunt took the first snap of the ensuing drive 62 yards for a touchdown. After an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty tacked on 15 yards to the two-point conversion attempt, Williams pass fell incomplete and the Rams led 12-7.

Newton's defense came up with a key stop on Union Grove's next possession. After the Wolverines moved deep into Ram territory, the defense held on fourth-and-1 to get the ball back.

Williams and the Rams went back to work from their own 14 and had something going until the drive stalled at the Union Grove 35-yard line. After failing to convert a fourth down, the Rams defense again held. But the wolverines took over at Newton's 21-yard line after an ill-advised punt return attempt resulted in a fumble.

With nine seconds remaining until halftime, Aikins took it in from five yards out and with the PAT, the Wolverines led 14-12 at the half.

Newton rolled the dice on its first possession of the second half but came up snake eyes when a fake punt attempt came up two yards short on fourth down and turned the ball back over to Union Grove in Rams territory.

"We went with the fake because I just didn't think they were good enough offensively to move the ball against us," Collins said. "We went for the fake and didn't make it but they didn't score. Our defense is the heart and soul of our team and they kept us in it. Our offense did some good things we just didn't make enough big plays or get the turnovers on defense."

The Rams' defense played well enough to win, but Union Grove matched the Rams defensively in the second half. It wasn't until the Rams muffed their second punt return that Union Grove seized control.

After a defensive stop force a punt, Bart Lindsey turned to field the kick but it sailed on him and he had it fall off his hands. Union Grove pounced on the loose ball and took over at the Rams' 25-yard line.

Newton's defense appeared to hold again. On third down, Moore threw up a floater in the end zone which appeared to hit the ground before Aikins could secure it. The officials hesitated to confer and called the touchdown making any appeal moot.

Down 21-12 late in the fourth quarter, Newton took advantage of a short field and scored in four plays. Williams' 25-yard pass to Jamal Hunte set the Rams up inside the red zone. Hunt then took it down to the 2-yard line before Torrian Hunte punched it to make it 21-19 after the PAT.

The Rams had one more chance but went four-and-out before Union Grove ran out the clock. Newton actually got the ball back with less than 15 seconds remaining but Williams fired an incompletion then was picked off on the Hail Mary attempt.

Now Newton faces a must-win Friday against Luella. The Lions beat Douglass 35-12 and are tied for the final spot with the Rams (both 3-3 in the region).

"We're right back where we were last year," Collins said. "The only difference is, we got blown out [against Union Grove] last year and now, we're walking out of here again feeling like we should have won the ball game. That's what we're going to harp on this week. Luella has to come to us. We're at home. We're going to check our injuries and get back at it. It's do or die and we're going to find out what we're made of."