By Thomas Grant Jr.
The Kenton Caldwell show has Newberry football off to its best start in eight years.
Led by the dual-threat junior quarterback, the Bulldogs have overwhelmed opponents in winning their first four games by a 193-48 margin.
Caldwell has accounted for most of those points with his 21 total touchdowns (12 passing, 9 rushing) to go with 1,315 total yards (825 yards on 54-63 passing and 490 rushing yards on 46 carries).
Longtime rival Chapin was the latest team to experience Newberry’s offensive onslaught. It started on the opening play when Caldwell threw a short pass to Jamere Crooks that he took 95 yards for a touchdown.
Caldwell displayed his swift feet on a 49-yard touchdown run on the Bulldogs’ second series. He then threw three more touchdown passes, two to Crooks, to finish with five scores and over 400 total yards in the 45-22 win.
“He’s playing at a very high level right now, and we expected him to play well after the way he finished last year,” Newberry head coach Cedrick Jeter said. “By continuing to put in the work, he is only going to get better. We at Newberry are looking forward to his continued success at leading our team and offense.”
The competition gets tougher for Newberry the next two weeks with matchups against ranked foes. Up first is Fairfield Central at home Friday, followed by a road matchup with undefeated Saluda.
District One in Week 3
While White Knoll was idle, the other four Lexington School District One teams were involved in close games.
The Swamp was the site of an All-District matchup between River Bluff and Gilbert.
It was tied 7-7 at halftime after a touchdown run by the Indians’ Wynn Meetze and 4-yard touchdown pass by Brayden Moore to Hayden Myers.
In the third quarter, Darius Carter made an over-the-shoulder catch on a Moore pass and raced down the sidelines 77 yards for the go-ahead score. The Gators went on to win 14-7.
Moore finished 10-17 for 196 yards, 122 on four receptions by Carter. Logan Carter had 22 carries for 96 yards for River Bluff (2-2).
Meetze and Gray Gunter rushed for 96 and 95 yards, respectively, for Gilbert (1-2).
Over in Greenwood, Lexington battled to the final seconds against the fourth-ranked Eagles.
It was a frenetic final five minutes as Greenwood took the lead on a blocked punt by Khamari Griffin that he recovered and scored a touchdown.
Ethan Crocker answered with his second touchdown pass to Nigel Lewis, going for 61 yards, to regain the lead at 30-29. Crocker finished with 206 passing yards, 126 caught by Lewis.
Greenwood quarterback Triston Lewis drove his team downfield for its final drive. After converting a fourth down with a pass to Jay Duncan, Lewis ran a keeper into the endzone for the 36-30 win.
Saluda now 3-0
The Greg Woerner era remains unblemished at Saluda.
Led by quarterback Bray Williams’ five touchdowns (3 passing, 2 rushing), the Tigers rolled past Chester 34-14 to improve to 3-0.
Williams was 7-9 passing for 168 yards and rushed for 56 yards. Darryl Hill, C.J. Davis and Jakaile Stevens all caught a touchdown
North Central 33, Mid-Carolina 28
Lower Richland 28, Batesburg-Leesville 6
Ridge Spring-Monetta 22, American Leadership Academy 0
Friday’s Schedule
(All Games Start at 7:30 pm)
Batesburg-Leesville at Calhoun County
Fairfield Central at Newberry
Gilbert at North Augusta
Mid-Carolina at Pelion
Swansea at Barnwell
Southside Christian at Saluda
White Knoll at Cane Bay
S.C. Prep Football Media Week 4 Poll
Class 3A
1. Belton-Honea Path (15) (4-0), 2. Woodruff (4) (3-0), 3. Mountain View Prep (4-0), 4. Newberry (1) (4-0), 5. Loris (4-0), 6. Dillon (2-2), 7. Oceanside Collegiate (2-2), 8. Powdersville (3-1), 9. Orangeburg-Wilkinson (3-0), 10. Marlboro County (3-1)
Others receiving votes: Swansea, Christ Church, Fox Creek, St. Joseph’s
Class 2A
1. Central (7) (3-0)
2. Clinton (4) (2-2)
3. Hampton County (5) (3-1)
4. Fairfield Central (2) (3-1)
5. Strom Thurmond (2-1)
6. Cheraw (1) (3-1)
7. Saluda (1) (3-0)
8. Batesburg-Leesville (1-2)
9. Timberland (4-0)
10. North Central (4-0)
Others receiving votes: Chesnee, Woodland, Barnwell, East Clarendon, Philip Simmons, Andrew Jackson, Chester
Feature photo: Gilbert at River Bluff. Photo by GoFlashwin.com
