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CHEWELAH -The Newport Grizzlies football team shut out Chewelah 37-0 Friday on a cold, wet night.
“The weather Friday definitely benefited our team and the style of offense we run,” Newport coach Mark Duxbury says. “We were able to get into our short yardage package for most of the night and grind it out. It was wet and muddy. Both teams had difficulty handling the ball and the passing game was almost non-existent for both teams.”
The win gets the Grizzlies to the crossover game with Liberty from Northeast 2B South Saturday at Deer Park High School for the fourth playoff spot for the Northeast 2B League. Newport plays in the Northeast 2B North division.
Liberty beat Colfax Monday to get to the play-in game from the Northeast 2B South.
Against Chewelah, Brody Driver scored first for Newport on a 51-yard run, on his way to a 154yard rushing game.
Quarterback Hank Kirkwood scored next for the Grizzlies. He made a 29-yard touchdown run. Newport got a safety in the second quarter. The Grizzlies were up 14-0 at the half.
“Brody Driver and Hank Kirkwood were again the one-two punch against Chewelah,” Duxbury says. He says the offensive line is one of Newport’s strengths and that everything on offense starts with the line.
In the second half Driver scored his second TD on a five-yard run. Driver rushed for the 2-point conversion.
Another Driver, Kutter Driver, rushed for the next two touchdowns for Newport. He scored in a six-yard run and followed it up with a successful two-point conversion run. He scored again before the game was over, this time on a one-yard run. Kirkwood kicked the extra point to give Newport the 37-0 win.
With the wet weather, Kirkwood only completed one pass, to Brad Martin for a first down in the red zone that set up a touchdown.
“Bradley Martin and Kutter Driver both made plays on offense at crucial times Friday night to contribute to the win,” Duxbury says.
Brody Driver and Kirkwood both rushed for more that 100 yards. Driver picked up 166 yards and two TDs on 25 carries. Kirkwood gained 154 yards and one TD on 28 carries. Kutter Driver rushed four times for 26 yards and two TDs. Preston Wacenske had four carries for 39 yards and Martin had three carries for 12 yards. Wacenske also had a pass interception.
Duxbury says Newport’s defense is playing aggressively and improving, getting some good experience. It held Chewelah to just 39 yards rushing.
“We have a lot of underclassmen playing defense so as the season moves on, they are getting more varsity experience and gaining confidence,” he says. “It was good to see them get a shutout.”
Duxbury wants Newport to continue to improve its mental game and to get better each day in practice.
“If we can do that, we like our chances in the crossover game,” Duxbury says. Newport (3-3, 5-4) plays Liberty (4-1, 6-3) at noon Saturday, Nov. 9, at Deer Park High School.
