By Paul Howe
EAGLE TIMES STAFF
NEWPORT — The Newport football team was all business as they took on the Mascoma Royals on a crisp fall day at Marlyn Field in Newport on Saturday and exploded for early scores to remain a perfect 6-0 with one game remaining in the regular season.
The points came early for Newport in the first quarter when the Tigers recovered a Mascoma fumble on the first play of the game. On Newport’s second offensive play, Tyler Gobin blasted through an opening on the right side and ran 39 yards for the touchdown and a quick 6-0 Tiger lead. The Tiger defense then went to work and forced the Royals to turn the ball over after four plays from the line of scrimmage.
Back on offense Newport was looking at a fourth-and-one when Karter Pollari took the hand from Kyle Ashley and ran 14 yards for Newport’s second touchdown. The conversion failed again and Newport’s lead was now 12-0.
“[Pollari] did not want Newport to be a one-dimensional team,” said coach John Proper.
So had quarterback Ashley who delivered his throws with success against the Mascoma defense.
On Newport’s third offensive drive, Pollari caught a pass from Ashley and ran in for a touchdown to make it 18 — 0 heading into the second quarter.
Mascoma began to drive the ball down the field to start the second quarter and looked like they might score when Jayden Conroy intercepted a pass by Mascoma and two short plays later Tyler Gobin
ran up the middle for anther Tiger touchdown.
The Royals just would not quit and on their next offensive set Royal’s quarterback Tyler Jay Mardin kept the ball and ran for Mascoma’s first and tacked on a two-point conversion to slice the Newport lead to 24-8.
Newport came right back on their next drive and scored after a nice catch and run by Tyler Gobin that set up another Pollari score pushing the lead up to 30-8. After Newport took over on downs the Tigers fumbled and Mascoma recovered but could not capitalize and after a short punt Pollari continued his amazing day with another touchdown while Devyn Heino converted the two conversion and the score was 38 — 8.
Mascoma’s Damian Nestle picked up a bunch of yards on the next possession’s run and looked like they may score before the half but on the next play the Tiger defense rose to the chaallenge and closed out the half leading 38-8.
Newport would close out the game causing more Royal turnovers while Mascoma did the best they could against a powerful Tiger team but ended up heading home with a 52-30 loss.
Ashley would finish his day going 4/4 through the air for 157 yards and two touchdowns while Gobin racked up 132 yards on nine carries with a couple of touchdowns also.
Newport (6-0) will play Newfound (1-5) at home next Saturday then await playoffs as they look to defend their state championship.
As your daily newspaper, we are committed to providing you with important local news coverage for Sullivan County and the surrounding areas.
