Newberry Dominates Rivals Mid-Carolina in a Showdown
PROSPERITY, S.C. — The excitement was palpable in the air Friday night as Newberry High School and Mid-Carolina High School clashed in a highly anticipated rivalry game. Fans filled Lon Armstrong Memorial Stadium to capacity, all eager to witness the drama unfold on the gridiron. Newberry, sporting their classic white jerseys, took on the black-clad Rebels, and the outcome was nothing short of a one-sided affair, with the Bulldogs trampling the Rebels 43-0.
A Rollercoaster Start
The game had a rocky start for Newberry as they aimed to maintain their undefeated streak. The Bulldogs wasted no time marching down the field on their first possession, but starting quarterback Bryce Satterwhite experienced an early setback. During a scramble, he fumbled the ball at the five-yard line, and Keshon Williams, the Mid-Carolina linebacker, was quick to recover. This gave the Rebels a glimmer of hope, but they couldn’t capitalize on the turnover and quickly returned the favor by going three-and-out.
Ground Game Takes Over
Newberry’s coaching staff, determined to stick with their two-quarterback strategy, brought in Kenton Caldwell for the second series. The Bulldogs shifted their focus to their strength: the ground game. BJ Jones kicked off the drive with a solid 15-yard run, paving the way for his first of three rushing touchdowns of the night. The Rebels’ defense struggled to contain him.
As the game progressed, Newberry’s defense stepped up tremendously. Jaderius Young secured the Bulldogs’ first sack during Mid-Carolina’s second series, signaling a shift in the game’s momentum. Before long, Newberry was in control, leading 26-0 by halftime after scoring three consecutive times in the second quarter.
Momentum Shift
After halftime, Mid-Carolina sought to regain their footing by implementing a passing game. However, disaster struck when Steven Joseph snatched a pass for an apparent pick-six, though it was unfortunately called back due to penalties. Even so, the Bulldogs capitalized on yet another short field, allowing Jones to find the end zone once more. Newberry’s offense was relentless, even as they faced several self-inflicted errors with penalties that nullified two additional touchdowns.
A Dominant Performance
At the end of the day, Newberry’s show of dominance continued. Coach Cedrick Jeter emphasized the importance of maintaining a high level of physical play, stating, “It ain’t me instilling anything in them, it’s Newberry. Newberry has always been physical and always played fast. I am just trying to keep it going from one generation to the next.” With this win, the Bulldogs have outscored their rivals 78-0 in their last two meetings, a statement that speaks volumes about their current form.
Looking to the Future
As the dust settled on the game, both teams found themselves looking forward. Newberry will now prepare for another challenging matchup against Clinton on Friday, September 6th, while the Rebels will be on the road, facing Whitmire. Mid-Carolina’s head coach, Chris Arnoult, while disappointed with the outcome, remained optimistic about his young yet talented squad. “We have great potential, but now it’s about building confidence,” he remarked, aware of the need to mature as a team.
As we witnessed the action on the field, from breathtaking plays to heart-stopping moments, one thing became clear: rivalry games bring out the best (and sometimes the worst) in teams. Newberry stood strong with their eyes firmly on the goal for this season, while Mid-Carolina, despite the setback, left with lessons learned and a renewed determination to improve.
