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(ALEX HAVARDANKSY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Keyton Newland launches a ball down the field Friday, Nov. 21 against the Water Valley Wildcats. Newland threw the first touchdown pass of the day for the Bobcats to Keegen Voyles. -
(ALEX HAVARDANKSY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) London Martinez runs a ball up the middle Friday, Nov. 21 against the Water Valley Wildcats. Martinez was one of the veteran leaders of this Bobcats team as a senior. -
(ALEX HAVARDANKSY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Cooper Clayton runs up to make a tackle on a Wildcats runner Friday, Nov. 21. Clayton was effective putting pressure on Water Valley’s offense and picking up key tackles.
The Newcastle Bobcats closed out a successful season in the area round of playoffs against the Water Valley Wildcats.
From the start, Newcastle found themselves behind in the game Friday, Nov. 21.
The Wildcats scored first to take an 8-0 lead and the Bobcats struggled to get the run game going early as they were stuffed on their offensive drive following the Wildcats score.
Water Valley marched down the field again to score their second touchdown of the first quarter on a rushing play to make it 16-0.
Another area the Bobcats were finding themselves in trouble early was in drawing too many penalties. The offense had several big plays called back due to penalties, costing them drives.
The Bobcats received their first real opportunity at the end of the first quarter. When it looked like Water Valley was going in to score again, they fumbled the ball in Newcastle territory and Rylan Hinojosa jumped on it to give the Bobcats possession.
Four plays into the second quarter, Keyton Newland launched a ball down the left side of the field for Keegen Voyles, who caught it in stride and took it all the way to the endzone for a long touchdown run to make it a one score game 16-8.
However, Water Valley countered with a fourth down touchdown pass of their own on the next drive to make it 24-8. The Bobcats went into the half trailing 32-8 after the Wildcats scored again later in the second quarter.
Newcastle tried their best to fight back, scoring 21 points in the second half, however the early deficit was simply too much to overcome, with the game ending with a final score of 63-29.
Despite the loss, it was still a successful run for the Bobcats. The team finished first in district for the second time in three seasons and went undefeated in the district to make it to the second round of the playoffs.
