In a wet, wild, and stormy affair, the Weston High School football team beat Dual County League-foe Newton South, 14-2, Friday night.
The contest was delayed halfway through for about 30 minutes due to lightning, and the rain caused fumbles, errant snaps, and slips. But the Wildcats managed touchdown runs from quarterback Jarett Rowe and running back Jorge Castro.
“I’ve never been in a game like that,” said Weston coach Sean McHugh. “You know, the lightning and everything like that. You got to come back up here and get the whole team warmed up again. The kids just kept their focus. They really wanted this victory. We asked them to be physical tonight and they were.”
With the victory, the Wildcats improve to 2-4. The Lions, meanwhile, remain winless on the season at 0-6.
“We played with energy this week, but we keep shooting ourselves in the foot, making mistakes, and giving up big plays,” said Newton South coach Ted Dalicandro. “We’re a young team, and we’re a work in progress. It’s disappointing. It’s disheartening. But I think our kids played a lot better than they have for the past two weeks. We’ve seen some improvement.”
The Wildcats had an auspicious start as on the second play of their opening drive Rowe broke down the left side for 24 yards. A play later, Castro barrelled up the middle for 11 yards before Rowe finished the drive off with a 44-yard scamper to pay dirt. Rowe then booted the single mark to give Weston the 7-0 lead.
Newton South’s offense was unable to respond, but its defense applied pressure to Weston forcing a sack at the Wildcats’ 2-yard line. A high snap followed sending the ball out of bounds and surrendering a safety to the Lions.
With the weather deteriorating, the game became sloppy as both teams had trouble holding onto the football. Neither squad managed any offensive production until after the delay. That’s when Castro notched a 14-yard touchdown run with 2:19 left in the third quarter. Another Rowe extra-point kick made the score 14-2.
In the fourth quarter, the Lions’ defense manufactured another impact play as Jake Alexander picked off a Rowe pass. But Newton South’s offense failed to capitalize continuing to be mired in impotence.