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Newsome Locks Up 1st Playoff Spot

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By ADAM ADKINS

aadkins@tampatrib.com

Published: November 8, 2008

Updated: 11/08/2008 12:36 am

LITHIA - There was a time before the season that Newsome coach Ken Hiscock saw the Wolves as an 8-2 team and Class 5A-District 7 champions.

"In my wildest dream," Hiscock said.

Well, as the final second ticked off the clock Friday night in the Wolves' district title game against visiting Bloomingdale, there was no need for Hiscock to pinch himself to make sure he wasn't dreaming. The ice-cold bucket of water his players dumped over his head after a 31-10 victory did the trick.

Sparked by two huge plays on special teams, the Wolves claimed the first district title in program history with their sixth consecutive victory. More importantly, though, the win assured Newsome that the program's first playoff game will be at home.

"This feels good. It's exciting," a soaking-wet Hiscock said. "I'm proud of the program, and these guys deserve it. They've worked hard every day, and it showed tonight."

The biggest play of the night occurred with just more than five minutes left. The Bulls (6-3) were trailing 17-10 and faced fourth-and-3 from their 27. Bloomingdale lined up to punt but attempted a fake. Anthony Beko's pass went off his receiver and into the hands of Newsome's Matt Dinneny, who returned the interception 32 yards for a touchdown to put the Wolves ahead 24-10.

"That's a big play," Hiscock said. "We always say, 'Playmakers make big plays,' and he sure came up with one tonight."

"Oh my god, as soon as he picked off that pass and was going up the sideline and scored, I knew it was over," Wolves lineman Conor O'Neal said.

It wasn't quite over, but after the Bulls turned it over on their next possession, Newsome's Conner Powers (26 carries, game-high 113 yards) essentially ended it with a 1-yard plunge with 1:39 left.

Neither team got much going in the first half. Newsome managed 55 yards of offense and Bloomingdale 60, but the Wolves carried a 10-3 lead into the break thanks to Keller Powers' 87-yard kickoff return for a touchdown early in the second quarter.

The Wolves put together their best drive on their opening possession of the second half, marching 76 yards on 11 plays, ending it with Trent Cornwell's 4-yard run to give Newsome a 17-3 lead.

The Bulls answered with an impressive drive of their own. Anthony Amos (15 carries, 45 yards) capped a 12-play, 71-yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown run to make it 17-10.

The Wolves' defense clamped down after that, holding the Bulls to 4 total yards on their next three possessions, and Newsome took control.

"We knew at the beginning of the season we were going to have a couple of bumps," O'Neal said. "After the Armwood game a 42-0 loss, Coach told us, 'Everything goes uphill from here gentlemen.' So we just took it one game at a time, and, you know, now we're 8-2 and district champs."

B-FG Firestone 30

N-K. Powers 87 kickoff return (Zaccario kick)

N-Cornwell 4 run (Zaccario kick)

B-Amos 4 run (Firestone kick)

N-Dinneny 32 interception return (Zaccario kick)

N-C. Powers 1 run (Zaccario kick)

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