Two and out
Tatum edges Newton in clash of Class 2A titans
By JIMMY GALVAN Managing Editor

Newsboy photo/Georgia Purdy NEWTON'S MALCOLM MATTOX drops to a knee at the end of the Eagles 20-16 defeat at the hands of Tatum Friday, Nov. 30 at Lufkin's Abe Martin Stadium.

Rarely does a game that is handed pre-game hype as a game of the year live up to its billing.

Last Friday night at Lufkin's Abe Martin Stadium, Tatum defeated Newton 20-16 in the Class 2A playoffs in a match-up that was thrilling all the way to the finish line.

It was a match-up of two titans at the Class 2A level. Both squads knew coming into the contest that the winner would have a first-class ticket to the state finals.

Tatum received the first big break of the game when Newton's Stephen Alfred fumbled a punt after a defensive stop by the Eagles. But Newton's defense stepped up to the challenge and forced a second Tatum punt.

Newton's Dominique Hartsfield blocked the punt of Tatum's Calvin Stoker and then Newton's Nelson Watson picked up the loose ball and returned to the Tatum 14 with 8:09 left in the first quarter.

It didn't take Newton long to show Tatum how explosive their offense can be as the Eagles found the end zone after two plays.

NEWTON'S NELSON WATSON takes off downfield with a bobbled PAT for a two-point conversion for the Eagles during Friday's contest with Tatum. Pictured below, Newton's Justin McLemore cuts upfield during first-half action.

Newton's Justin McLemore scored from three yards out to give Newton a 7-0 lead with 7:28 left in the first quarter and a PAT by James Burch.

Tatum, who is coming off a Class 3A and Class 2A state championship years, finally were able to move the ball on their third possession of the game.

Behind the play of quarterback Cashas Pollard, Tatum was able to move to the midfield stripe but the drive stalled once again. Tatum set up in punt formation but pulled off a perfect fake punt when Stoker completed a pass to a wide-open Gerad Sanders as he scampered 50 yards for the touchdown.

The score knotted the game at 7-all with 5:05 left in the first quarter.

But Newton wasted no time re-taking the lead away from Tatum.

Newsboy photo/Georgia Purdy

After Burch returned the ensuing kickoff 58 yards to the Tatum 19, the Eagles used only one play to reach the end zone again.

This time, quarterback Nico Adams connected with Burch from 19 yards out and let the talented junior do the rest. Burch broke through a couple of Tatum tacklers to score and give the Eagles a 14-7 lead with 4:47 left in the first quarter.

Tatum still couldn't move the ball on the next possession and Newton again moved the ball down the field against the Tatum defense.

Behind the running of Burch and McLemore, the Eagles moved at ease against Tatum. But as the drive reached deep into Tatum's end of the field, the Tatum defense stepped up and held Newton out of the end zone.

Burch was stopped two yards short of a first down to hand the ball back over to Tatum at their own 19.

Tatum had yet to show any offensive movement in the game but on their first drive of the second quarter, they were finally able to move the ball against the Newton defense.

Tatum used the running of Pollard and running back Bryce Beall, Tatum finally was able to find the scoreboard again.

Tatum had to settle for a 34-yard field goal by Jose Trejo with 5:00 left in the second quarter to cut Newton's lead to 14-10.

On their next drive, Newton moved the ball down the field and looked ready to answer Tatum's score with one of their own. The Eagles drove down to the Tatum 12 before Tatum stiffened and held the Eagles out of the end zone.

Newton attempted a 37- yard field goal by Burch with 1:01 left in the second quarter but the kick sailed short.

Tatum, though, was not through scoring in the first half. Tatum quickly moved down the field and then Pollard connected with Chance Blackmon on a 52- yard scoring strike to take a 16-14 lead with 23 seconds left in the second quarter.

Tatum botched the PAT attempt and Newton's Hartsfield picked up the loose ball and rambled 89 yards for a two-point conversion to knot the game at 16- all at the halftime break.

In the first half of play, Newton had amassed 140 yards of offense to Tatum's 212 yards of offense in a closely matched contest.

While the first half was an offensive showcase, the defense of both squads made their presence felt in the second half of play.

With the game knotted at the half, it was increasingly aware that minimizing mistakes would be at a premium in the second half of play.

Both squads gained minimal yards in the second half of play as both squads picked up their defensive intensity. Newton was able to move the ball on their second drive of the second half but the drive stalled and forced a Newton punt from their own 39.

When the snap from center sailed high over the head of punter Burch, the junior had no decision but to throw the ball out of the end zone and give Tatum a two-point safety at the 2:00 mark of the third quarter and Tatum an 18-16 lead.

It would be a lead Tatum would never relinquish.

Early in the fourth quarter, Burch lined up in punt formation again deep in his end zone and again the snap sailed high over the junior's head to give Tatum two more points. Tatum's lead had now grown to 20-16 on two special team mistakes by the Eagles.

But Newton's defense was not allowing Tatum to gain any additional points as the Eagles stopped Tatum's offensive scheme time and time again in the second half of play.

Late in the fourth quarter, Tatum pinned Newton back at their own three with 5:07 left in the contest. If the Eagles were going to come back, Newton would have to drive 97 yards against a Tatum defense, which had stepped up its attack in the second half.

Early in the drive, Newton converted a fourth down call when McLemore busted off a nine-yard gain to the Newton 21. But Adams, who was under constant pressure all night long by Tatum's defensive front, was forced to go to the airwaves to move the Eagles into any type of scoring opportunity.

Newton appeared to have the break they needed on the drive when Adams connected with Alfred across the middle of the field but Pollard drilled the junior receiver as the ball got there and forced an incomplete pass.

On the fourth-down play, Adams was sacked by Tatum's LaTerion Fletcher and Stedmon Coleman at the Newton 10 to give the ball back to Tatum with 3:01 left in the contest.

Newton's defense would have to come up big on Tatum's ensuing drive and the Eagles did just that.

Four straight runs by Tatum netted just eight yards and left Tatum short of the end zone and gave the ball back to Newton at their own two-yard line with 1:56 left in the game.

All year long, Newton had claimed the big play when they needed it and on their second play from scrimmage on the drive, the Eagles got the big break they were seeking in the second half.

Adams lofted a high pass down the left sideline and Alfred ran under it for a 71- yard gain to the Tatum 23 with 1:41 left in the game.

Three straight incomplete passes by Adams left Newton with a fourth down call. Adams was able to get off a pass into the end zone but Tatum's Blackmon intercepted the ball and returned it to the Tatum 10 to finish off Newton.