Freeman goes to air to beat Newport

FREEMAN – The Newport Grizzlies football team has been playing and losing to some top 10 state ranked teams recently. Friday, they lost 54-28 to Freeman. Freeman is currently ranked No. 3 by MaxPreps.

Freeman had an effective air game, completing 20 of 25 passes for 347 yards and four touchdowns, according to Newport’s statistics.

Newport had the ball more than twice as long as Freeman.

“We had long drives and stalled once in the red zone,” Newport coach Mark Duxbury says. “Freeman had several big plays and two possessions where they had a short field, so they scored quickly.”

Freeman scored first on a 14-yard rush, then followed it up with a 30-yard touchdown pass play. Newport scored in the first quarter, with quarterback Hank Kirkwood rushing for a six-yard TD. Damien Hamberg kicked the extra point and the quarter ended with Freeman up 14-7.

The Scotties took to the air in the second quarter, with touchdown passes of 15 and 36 yards. Freeman got into the end zone two more times before the half ended, on runs of one and 13 yards. Newport trailed 41-7 at the half.

The Grizzlies scored in the second half on a nine-yard Kutter Driver run, with Kirkwood kicking the extra point. Freeman answered with a one-yard TD run. The quarter ended with Freeman up 48-14.

After a scoreless third quarter, Kutter Driver scored another rushing TD in the fourth quarter, a seven yarder. Hamberg kicked the extra point.

Freeman got their last touchdown on a nine-yard pass play. Brody Driver scored Newport’s last TD on a three-yard run. Kirkwood kicked the extra point.

Newport gained 284 yards rushing, led by Brody Driver, who carried 19 times for 129 yards and two touchdowns. Kutter Driver carried 10 times for 57 yards and two TDs. Preston Wacenske gained 40 yards on four carries, Brad Martin had six carries for 31 yards and Kirkwood had 13 carries for 26 yards and a TD. Kirkwood completed six of nine passes for 69 yards.

Newport next travels to Burbank High School, near Kennewick, for a game with Columbia-Burbank. The game starts at 7 p.m.