Newport
Although the Tigers’ enrollment qualified them to play in NHIAA Division IV, the school’s successful gridiron history, combined with the prospective return of two-time 1,000-yard rusher John Thibault, led to a decision to remain in D-III. But before the 2018 season began, Thibault’s family moved, which combined with graduation losses, has made for a trying season, which continued with Saturday’s 52-22 loss to Somersworth.
Newport’s first-year coach, Dennis Borcuk Jr., was concerned more about his team’s defense: the Tigers have allowed 235 points this season, while the offense has scored only 41. The main complaint was in the tackling.
“It’s not like we haven’t taught them how to tackle, you have to want to make the effort,” he said. “This is not Newport football.”
Newport is 0-6, a year after going went 8-2 and reaching the D-III semifinals.
If there was a bright spot for the Tigers on Saturday — and it was a very bright spot — it was junior Joey Ackerman, who had an incredible rushing day of 237 yards and touchdown runs of 1, 57 and 71 yards.
The schedule has not done Newport any favors, either. The Tigers already have played Stevens, Campbell and Monandock, who all were undefeated until Stevens lost to Laconia on Friday night. Consequently, Saturday’s game with Somersworth (1-5) appeared to be somewhat of a softer spot on the schedule.
Newport has three games left, and will be the underdog in games with Kearsarge-Mount Royal and Laconia in the next two weeks before closing the season with Epping-Newmarket, a team with just one win entering the weekend.
Somersworth was a similar to Newport in that it has had great success in the past, but had been outscored 164-53 going into Saturday, when it more than doubled its season point total.
Newport won the toss and deferred to the second half. So the Tigers kicked off and the Hilltoppers went three-and-out and punted. But Newport didn’t field the punt and the ball rolled dead on the 2-yard line. On Newport’s first play from scrimmage, the Tigers turned the ball over on a fumble. To plays later, Somersworth scored and after the 2-point conversion made it 8-0 with just over two minutes gone.
Newport got a nifty return of 37 yards on the ensuing kickoff from Jay Conroy, which set the Tigers up on their own 47. Newport kept handing the ball to Ackerman, who at 155 pounds played much bigger, and he kept moving the chains, rushing for 38 yards on the drive that would he culminate from the one. He also rushed for the 2-point conversion to tie the game at 8-8.
That was the only highlight of the first half for Newport, as the Tigers were unable to slow the Hilltoppers, who moved up and down the field and led 27-8 at the break.
The Tigers showed some spunk coming out of the gate in the second half as Ackerman had an electrifying touchdown run of 71 yards, including a long dash with defenders in hot pursuit. His third touchdown of the day came on fourth-and-13 in the fourth quarter from 57 yards out.
Newport was missing leading rusher Jagger Lovely was out with an injury and two other starters were benched for discipline reasons.
“We played a lot of underclassmen, so I hope we can learn from that experience,” Borcuk said.