Newport gets key win

NEWPORT – Newport was at home for a do or die league game against Reardan Friday. The Grizzlies needed a win to keep their playoff hopes alive.

They got it, a 41-38 come from behind victory over the Reardan Screaming Eagles.

“It was good to get back in the win column, especially on senior night,” Newport coach Mark Duxbury says. He says the team has improved on defense, applying pressure to the quarterback and creating turnovers.

“We got a few sacks and effected the quarterback’s accuracy,” Duxbury says. “We also won the turnover game with two interceptions and recovering a fumble.”

Newport jumped out to an early lead with a 16-yard Hank Kirkwood touchdown run. Brody Driver scored next on a run, part of 207 yards gained in 22 carries.

Then Reardan answered with a rushing TD to end the first quarter 13-8. But Reardan kept going in the second quarter, tacking on a 21-yard touchdown pass play to tie the game.

Brad Martin scored for Newport on a nine-yard run to get the lead back. Martin picked up 60 yards in nine carries.

Reardan took to the air for a 40 yard-TD pass play to tie the game. With a successful point after, Reardan went into halftime up 22-20.

Newport scored two TDs in the third quarter, on a one-yard Driver run and a 52-yard Kirkwood to Ryder Brown pass play. The Grizzly defense held Reardan scoreless.

Kirkwood completed two of four passes for 52 yards. Driver caught the other pass for no gain.

In the fourth quarter, Reardan scored on a two short runs to pull within a touchdown. Newport answered with a five-yard Kirkwood TD run. With Kirkwood’s point after kick, Newport went up by nine points. Kirkwood ended up with 76 yards rushing on 16 carries.

Duxbury was happy for the win and improvements, but says the team still has work to do.

“We continue to make mental mistakes that put us in some bad positions, giving the opponents additional opportunities,” he says. “We fumbled a punt return deep in our own territory, we failed to recover an onside kick, and we were flagged for roughing the punter. These mistakes resulted in two scores by Reardan.”

Duxbury says the team will work on mistakes as they prepare for their last regular season game against Chewelah Friday at Snyder Field in Chewelah. The game starts at 7 p.m. Both teams have 2-3 league records. Chewelah is coming off a 50-0 loss to Freeman, the league’s No. 2 ranked team.

“This game will determine who takes fourth place and has the opportunity to play in the crossover game to qualify for the state playoffs,” Duxbury says.