By Christopher Shaban
EAGLE TIMES STAFF
NEWPORT — John Proper’s new look Tigers dominated every aspect of their home opener on their way to a 42-0 win over Mascoma. “This isn’t a one-dimensional team, and we’ll get better,” said Proper.
With a swarming and hungry Tiger defense that shut down the Royals all day, the Newport offensive explosion began when Tyler Gobin ripped off a run around the left tackle and raced 53 yards untouched for the first Tiger touchdown of the year. On the second Royal offensive series, Kyle Ashley recovered a fumble deep in Mascoma territory that set up Newport’s second score of the day. Gobin found pay-dirt after a 13-yard run as the first quarter ended with Newport up 14-0 and marching again.
Mascoma didn’t like to punt and when they were stopped again on a 4th down attempt, Newport had the ball back to start the second quarter on the Royal 29-yard line. A big 21-yard gain by Gobin was followed by a seven-yard run by Eric Wilkinson. As Newport broke the huddle and lined up near the goal line, Tiger center Kamden Pollari was ready. “We’ve been playing together for years, I knew what was going to happen next,” said Pollari. When Ashley got ready, he gave the signal and Pollari pancaked the defense as the two ended up underneath the pile. “He told me that was a great block while we waited for everyone to let us get up,” said Pollari.
Newport has been known as a run powered team, but with the boys soccer program put on hold for the time being, a few new weapons became available to Proper. Enter Kayden LaClair, who exploded off the line and flew past everyone as he grabbed a 70-yard touchdown bomb from Ashley to make it 28 zip. “We are not just a run team, we have players that can do many things,” said Ashley after the game.
One of those players that can do many things was Ashley. The junior has bulked up in the weight room and on his 40-yard run into the end zone, he left the field littered with would be Mascoma tacklers with a stiff arm that put three visitors to the ground.
The line play of Newport was simply dominant as Cayden Decato, Makyl Matheson,nd Pollari recorded sacks and just wouldn’t let Mascoma breath all day.
Newport would add another score before half when Ashley scrambled and hit LaClair for a 60-yard strike making the score 42-0 at the half. “This is a good feeling, we have all worked hard this summer, the line play was outstanding today, everything we have been working on in practice just clicked today,” said the junior signal caller.
“There were lots of bright spots today, practice dictates success on the field during games. This is how we wanted to start the year,” said Proper after the game.
Newport (1-0) will head to Winnisquam (1-0) on Saturday to tangle with the Bears, who opened their season beating Bishop Brady 20-13 on the road.
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