STILL THE ONE
Barbay sets table for another run at a Class 2A state championship
By JIMMY GALVAN Managing Editor

Newsboy file photo NEWTON'S DEFENSE corrals Jasper quarterback William Ellis during a play during last year's contest. Newton returns several key starters on this year's defensive

When you talk Newton Eagle football, talk of a district championship normally comes along quickly in the conversation.

And does playing the favorite role ever wear on Newton Head Football Coach Curtis Barbay year after year?

"I would damn sure rather be the favorite than be predicted to be at the bottom of the district," Barbay said. "It's a challenge and that's what I like. It's a heck of a lot easier being a no name and going up there and beating someone that is better than you.

"You can always sneak up on someone but we are not sneaking up on anybody," Barbay said. "Everyone comes at us with all guns firing and it's always a battle."

Barbay, who is entering his 22nd year at Newton, said his team finally started looking good during the second week of practices.

"It was cooler and it was the first decent practice that we had," Barbay said. "Everything else has been survival mode. It's been going slow but that is how we usually go anyway with the goal to be playing our best later on."

"I look forward to every season. When you get older, every seasons means a bit more because you don't know if you will be here for the next one. I try to do the best I can to give them a chance to win because you don't know what will happen to you tomorrow." - Newton Head Football Coach Curtis Barbay

Normally, "later on" means the playoffs where the Eagles have been permanent fixtures.

This year should be no different for Class 2A Newton as they return six offensive and six defensive starters from last year's 8-3 squad.

"We have a bunch of seniors on this team and we could be pretty good," Barbay said. "Everything has to fall into place and stay away from injuries, but we should have a good team."

That senior leadership will be counted on this year as the Eagles venture in the District 23-2A play.

"Depending on how our seniors do will determine what kind of team we have," Barbay said. "They have to step up. We should have a good team if they want to step up and play but you never know about that."

Last year, the Eagles were a bit young and Barbay knew that coming into the season. He knew that this year his Eagles would be a better squad.

"We had a good team last year but the only team that I thought beat us was Jasper," Barbay said. "I thought they outplayed us in the game and should have won the game."

Barbay even thought his Eagles were better than Marlin, who defeated Newton 33-28 in the area round of the playoffs last year.

"They had breaks in the game and you have to be lucky and they have been real lucky against us," Barbay said.

Leading the way offensively for Newton will be running back Justin McLemore, who rushed for 1,370 yards and 14 touch- -downs last year.

Toss in Trey Ethridge in the backfield and Nico Adams will switch to quarterback and you have the makings of a strong offensive backfield.

All-district linebacker Dillon Flanigan returns to anchor the defense after securing 96 tackles last year. Other key defensive players include Malcolm Mattox, Jeff Byerly and Jim Ed Hughes.

Barbay said he is looking for constant improvement through the scrimmages before the start of the season.

"We want to see who is going to block and tackle because that is the name of the game," Barbay said. "We want to find out who is going to compete. I don't care who wins the scrimmages. I just want to see who wants to get after it so you can find out who wants to play and those who don't want to play you put them in the back."

But don't expect the Eagles to be at top form when they open a tough non-district schedule Sept. 7 against Crockett.

"I don't think we will be at 100 percent - we never have been," Barbay said. "We will probably be hitting around 70-75 percent by the first game and then we will get better as we move along.

"We don't need to be peaking at the beginning of the season," Barbay said. "Teams that peak at the beginning, probably don't play very good at the end. We have always been slow starting and get better as we go through the season."

Through their non-district schedule, Newton picks some of the tougher opponents in the area.

The Eagles open with Crockett and then take on Jasper, Silsbee and Carthage in three straight home contests.

"Everybody on our non-district schedule can beat us and we have a chance to beat them," Barbay said. "We will always play teams that are tougher than us in non-district so that we get to the playoffs we are accustomed to that kind of high-caliber play."

Barbay is looking forward to taking the field this year with his Eagles.

"I look forward to every season," Barbay said. "When you get older, every season means a bit more because you don't know if you will be here for the next one. I try to do the best I can to give them a chance to win because you don't know what will happen to you tomorrow."