Newton Eagles It's playoff time
Barbay has Eagles settling into normal time of season
By JIMMY GALVAN Managing Editor

Newsboy file photo NEWTON'S JUSTIN MCLEMORE has picked up the Eagle rushing attack in recent weeks.

There are some traditions that continue on year after year. While some high school football squads are packing

up this time of the year, the

Newton Eagles are getting ready for their annual trek through the "second" season.

After dispatching San Augustine 52-6 Friday night to cap off another District 23-2A title, the Eagles have now set their

sights on taking on the

Buna Cougars Thursday,

Nov. 15 in Lufkin at 7 p.m.

"We're playing pretty

good right now and executing

pretty good right now and that is what it takes," said Newton Head Football Coach Curtis Barbay. "You coach for the opportunity to compete for the state title. I still get excited about the opportunity you give the kids to experience something they will never get to experience again the rest of their lives."

After all these years of advancing to the playoffs, Barbay said there is no different approach to the playoffs for his Eagles.

"We don't approach these games any differently that the regular season games," Barbay said. "We play them the same way. Whoever we are playing, we are going to go out and try to beat them. And you have to be lucky too as well because everybody is going to be pretty good that you play."

Even though all the teams are in the playoffs, Newton still enters the second season as one of the teams to beat.

"I guess that's true but I won't try to motivate anybody with that," Barbay said. "coach the same way every time and give the people that we play a lot of respect. When you quit doing that, you will lose to them."

Barbay has coached teams that won state titles and he says he has coached squads that were good enough to win state but just fell short.

"We had a bunch of teams that were good enough to win it but didn't. But I always felt we were just as good as the team that won the state championship," Barbay said. "I feel that this year we will be as equal to anybody we might play."

This year, Newton's road in the playoffs starts with a match-up with 9-1 Buna.

"We played them last year in the playoffs and scrimmaged and they are much improved from where they were last year," Barbay said of the Cougars.

Barbay said Buna has a high number of returning players back this year and that alone makes the Cougars a formidable opponent.

"When you have everybody coming back, you ought to be better," Barbay said. "But we have a lot coming back also."

Barbay knows Buna comes in featuring a strong running attack and he knows the Eagles will have to slow the Cougars when they have the ball.

"They have had a great season over there," Barbay said. "They should have a high confidence level coming into the game and we will try to approach it like any other game."

Barbay said the short week to prepare for the playoff game would not be a major factor for his Eagles.

"We are ready to play - we would play every Thursday if we had to," Barbay said.

He said the only real adjustment his Eagles will have to make in the playoffs would be adjusting to playing in bigger stadiums.

"When you play bigger schools in pre-district, you play in bigger stadiums and in the playoffs that can become a harder adjustment for the kids," Barbay said. "But we have gotten used to that."

And for Barbay, it all goes back to the old adage that he has preached all season long.

"We are just trying to get a little better every week and if you do that, you will be pretty good at the end," Barbay said.