Published: October 15, 2008 05:39 pm            

Generals down Alpha to keep playoff hopes alive

NEWTON —

After stumbling in a 21-20 loss to Wayne Academy the previous week, the Newton County Academy Generals got back in the playoff picture with a 24-8 MPSA District 4-A victory over Alpha Christian School Friday at Hattiesburg.

NCA scored touchdowns in the first, second, and fourth quarters to improve to 5-3 overall and 2-1 in 4-A.

The Generals have an open date this week before taking on Sylva-Bay Academy on Oct. 24. Sylva-Bay is 7-1 overall and 2-0 in the conference. The Saints host Wayne Academy this Friday. Alpha fell to 2-6 and 1-2.

“It’s always good to get a district win,” said NCA assistant coach Chase Nicholson. “We were in a need-to-win situation and went out there and executed and got the win. We’re excited about that and looking forward to next week.”

The Generals rushed 48 times for 279 yards. In the air, Rob Roberts completed 6-of-10 passes for 115 yards.

“We were moving the ball well running it so there was no need in changing it,” Nicholson said. “We slipped a few passes in there, but we mainly stuck with running the ball.

“When we were up two scores in the third quarter, as long as we could run it we were because they had such big-play possibilities. We wanted to keep the ball out of their hands as much as we could.”

The Generals’ secondary turned in a strong showing with the always-dangerous Alpha passing game. Alpha’s only touchdown came on an interception return.

“We spent all week working with the secondary and zone coverages,” Nicholson said. “(Former player) Brody Thomas came in and gave coach (Robert) Roberts some zone coverage schemes and we worked that Monday through Wednesday. That was pretty much the base of our practices. Those boys did it to the ‘T.’

They were perfect. The only score that Alpha Christian got came off an interception return for a touchdown.

“There were no big plays. They kept everything in front of them. The linemen rushing did a great job of containing the quarterback and the secondary did an outstanding job.”

Ethan Lewis put NCA up 6-0 with a 1-yard scoring run in the first quarter. Hunter Smith ran in a two-point conversion to up the Generals’ lead to 8-0.

Smith had a big night as he rushed 30 times for 191 yards and caught three passes for 54 yards.

Lewis scored on a 3-yard run in the second quarter with Smith adding another two-point run for a 16-0 NCA lead.

Alpha answered with a 53-yard interception return for a touchdown by Nicholas Reed. Anthony Ward ran in a two-point conversion to cut NCA’s lead to 16-8 going into halftime.

Neither team was able to put up any points in the third quarter.

Rob Roberts teamed with Anthony Williams on a 47-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to provide a cushion for the Generals. Smith added his third two-point run of the night to extend NCA’s lead to 24-8.

Williams had three receptions for 61 yards.

Defensively, Dillon Williams recorded a dozen tackles. Jacob Little had 11, T.J. White had 10, and Justin Dearman had eight along with a fumble recovery.

The Generals enjoy an open date this week before facing Sylva-Bay in what could be for the league championship on October 24.

“If everything works out, our game will be for first and second place,”

Nicholson said. “We’ll take this week and practice like we would any other week.

“We’re going to give these guys a chance to get healed up a little bit so they’ll be fresh and ready to go against Sylva-Bay.”

        

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