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Newsome wins it by air

By ADAM ADKINS

aadkins@tampatrib.com

Published: November 7, 2009

LITHIA - Newsome's offense has been successful the past few years with its chosen method of moving the ball - the Wing-T offense. On Friday night, the Wolves went to the air - and they proved they can be successful in that mode, too.

Senior quarterback Matt Klenke had a career game, completing 23 of 32 attempts for 324 yards and four TDs to power Newsome to a 35-31 victory over Durant in a Class 5A-District 6 matchup.

The victory was the crowning moment so far for a Wolves team that has battled adversity all season. Newsome, which has lost several players to injuries this season and was winless until Week 4, earned its second consecutive district title with its sixth consecutive victory.

"I am really proud of this team," Newsome coach Kenneth Hiscock said. "They never quit."

The Wolves' win also eliminated Durant from playoff contention. Plant City secured the district runner-up spot with the Cougars' loss.

Things didn't start well Friday for the Wolves (6-3, 4-0). Durant (6-3, 2-2) scored on its first two possessions, both on Je'Twan Smith passes to David Claypool (four receptions, 94 yards), to build a 14-0 lead.

The lead was short-lived. Newsome stormed back behind Klenke and fellow senior Niko Anthony.

Klenke threw touchdown passes to Anthony on three consecutive possessions to put the Wolves ahead 21-14. Anthony had six catches for 140 yards in the first half as Newsome went into the break with 21-17 lead.

But the Cougars stole the momentum again after halftime. Durant engineered a 13-play, 75-yard drive that chewed up more than six minutes to start the second half. Smith (8-of-14, 129 yards) threw his third touchdown of the game, a 10-yard swing pass to running back Jarvis Scott (118 total yards), who took over after senior John Hicks left with a leg injury on the Cougars' second possession. That put Durant ahead 24-21.

Newsome turned the ball over on its next possession, and the Cougars scored to make it 31-21 with 11:32 left.

Anthony capped Newsome's ensuing possession with a 2-yard run that made it 31-28 with 4:32 remaining. After a Durant fumble, Newsome got the ball at its 22 with 3:26 left. Klenke hit Keller Powers on a 36-yard pass with 2:18 left for what proved to be the winning score.

"I'm going to remember this the rest of my life," said Klenke, who was 21-of-42 for 523 yards and three touchdowns on the season entering Friday. "This is really a great feeling. I can't explain it."