NEWPORT — Lebanon High routed Newport, 49-6, on Saturday during an NHIAA Division III football game in which the visiting Raiders could have almost named their score.
Lebanon not only tallied on each of its first seven possessions but returned a fumble for a touchdown en route to a 43-0 halftime lead. The Tigers had six turns on offense before intermission, resulting in three punts, two lost fumbles and a pass intercepted by the Raiders.
So desperate did the hosts’ plight become that the public-address announcer took to leading feeble chants of “Defense, defense!” and encouraging Newport’s players by first name.
“We didn’t have many mistakes,” said Lebanon coach Chris Childs, whose team is expected to be a state title contender if it can remain healthy. “That’s complete domination when you score in every aspect of the game like we did today. It wasn’t the same kids; it was spread out and a team effort.”
Lebanon compiled 215 yards rushing and 151 through the air. Newport, which had 6 yards on the ground and none passing at halftime, finished with 49 and 9, respectively. Raider running back Wade Rainey had 109 yards and two touchdowns in six carries, and Jack Chamley ran three times for 45 yards.
Lebanon quarterback Jon Willeman completed nine of 10 passes for 128 yards and three touchdowns. Caleb Smith caught three passes for three passes for 34 yards and a score, and Jack Stone’s lone reception was an 84-yard touchdown. The second half was played with a running clock and Lebanon’s substitutes on the field.
“They were the aggressor, and I told our kids they couldn’t wait for them on their heels,” said first-year Newport coach John Proper, the Tigers’ fourth bench boss in the last six years. “We can’t afford to make mistakes, because we’re not there yet to be able to recover from them.”
Josh Sharron carried nine times for 19 yards and Jagger Lovely ran seven times for 14 yards and scored the hosts’ lone touchdown on a 3-yard run with seven minutes to play. Darshawn Chesser produced 13 yards in five carries, and Marius Edwards completed two of five passes for 9 yards and had one toss intercepted by Willeman.
“We gave up too much pressure through the interior of our offensive line and they set the edge, and their flow (to the ball) was amazing,” Proper said. “We’d have to cut back, and there was always guys there. They had 10 or 11 guys on the ball every play, and we weren’t swarming, which isn’t how we played during the preseason.”
Lebanon’s scores came on a 7-yard Rainey run, a 32-yard Chamley fumble return, a 58-yard pass from Willeman to Stone, a safety, an 11-yard pass from Willeman to Calvin Bates, a 3-yard Rainey run, a 26-yard Willeman pass to Smith and a 16-yard Logan Sanchez run.
“We have enough athletes that we can spread (the offense) around,” Childs said. “It’s going to be hard to key on any one kid, that’s for sure.
“Where we are up front from a year ago is night and day; we’re playing at a higher speed. Our size helps, but they’re communicating better and they pick up stunts and just feel more comfortable with what we’re doing.”
Said Proper: “We started getting beat down, and that’s tough for young kids. We have to keep going and get prepared against (Stevens) next weekend. We’ve got to have some intensity, because our first five games are all against playoff contenders.”
Tris Wykes can be reached at twykes@vnews.com.