Big plays spark Newman win over rival Morrison

STERLING – A double dose of Newman proved to be just enough in this year’s annual grudge match against Morrison.

Senior linebacker Brett Newman spearheaded a stout defense for the Comets, and they were able to hang on for a 14-7 victory Thursday night at Roscoe Eades Stadium.

Newman (2-0) was coming off a running-clock win against Bureau Valley, but was pushed to the limit by Morrison (1-2).

“Coach [Brandon Kreczmer] always talks about being tougher than the other team and hitting them in the mouth,” Brett Newman said. “I feel that’s what we did tonight. We gave it our all, and that’s all you can ask for really.”

“Hats off to Morrison,” Kreczmer said. “[Morrison] Coach [Ryan] Oetting does a great job. That was an old-fashioned football game – a lot of hard hitting, a rivalry game. To get a game like this, early in this shortened season, could definitely springboard us forward.”

Newman’s offense played keep-away a good chunk of the second half, as it churned out tough yardage against a stout Morrison D. The Mustangs had just three second-half possessions, and Brett Newman ended two of them.

Morrison pieced together a drive that began on its own 16 and reached the Newman 15, where it was 4th and 7. Mustangs quarterback Nathan Helms dropped back to pass, but was sacked by Brett Newman back at the 22.

“I just trusted my teammates,” Newman said. “Coach told me to go, and I went off responsibility of my other teammates, and I was able to make the play thanks to them.”

Morrison had one last chance. On a 3rd-and-5 play from the Mustangs’ 43, Helms threw a pass that glanced off the fingers of 6-foot-7 receiver TC Ottens and into Brett Newman’s hands with 1:54 to go. The Comets were able to run out the clock, as the Mustangs were out of timeouts.

“It went off his hands,” Newman said. “I read the 1 and the 2 man, and I was lucky enough to have my other corners and the linebackers do their jobs, and I was lucky enough to make the play.”

After a scoreless first quarter, Morrison pieced together a 9-play, 52-yard march capped by a 7-yard touchdown pass from Helms to Alex Anderson. Helms’ extra point made it 7-0.

Newman responded with a 6-play, 54-yard drive, with Andrew Velasquez rumbling in from 14 yards for the score. Jacob Donald tacked on the tying extra point.

The Comets’ go-ahead score came right after halftime, an 11-play, 67-yard drive finished off by Velasquez from 4 yards out.

“You’ve got to give Newman credit,” Oetting said.”They played hard and it was a physical game. It was a little bit of a war of attrition for us. With 18 varsity-aged kids, our kids don’t come off the field much. Newman did what they had to do, so give them credit. They stopped us when they had to.”

Helms completed 10 passes for 130 yards, with Ottens grabbing six of those for 39 yards. Anderson had three grabs, also for 39 yards. Helms was picked off three times, once by Newman at the end, and twice by Owen McBride in the first half. The Comets had no turnovers.

“They’re explosive, they tried to spread us out, and Helms is a heck of a quarterback,” Kreczmer said. “We were having trouble keeping him in the pocket. They have a lot of big receivers that went up and got it. A lot of the plays TC had, we were right there. He’s 6-7 and went up to go get it. It was good team defense, and anytime we can win the takeaway battle, we’ll take it.”

Velasquez had 18 carries for 92 yards and two touchdowns, giving him six on the season thus far. Brady Stevens added five carries for 45 yards.

Football

Newman 14, Morrison 7

Star of the game: Andrew Velasquez, Newman, 18 carries, 92 yards, 2 TDs

Key performers: Brett Newman, Newman, 2 sacks, INT; Nathan Helms, Morrison, 130 yards passing

Up next: Fulton at Morrison, 7 p.m. April 9; Peru St. Bede at Newman, noon April 10