NEWPORT — Bishop Brady was probably starting to think upset midway through the second quarter of Saturday’s NHIAA Division IV semifinal football semifinal at Maryn Field.
The Green Giants had cut host Newport’s lead to seven points, 21-14, after scoring once on a couple of long passes and a second time on a fumble recovery and another scoring pass to Christopher Grimbilas. Even worse for Newport, top rusher Tyler Gobin came out of the game in the second quarter with an injured elbow, and just before the half, quarterback Kyle Ashley took a hit to the helmet that opened a gash on the bridge of his nose.
But the Tigers came out in the second half and quickly put to rest a possible repeat of last year’s semifinal upset loss at home to Fall Mountain, sending the Green Giants home with a 35-14 defeat.
After stopping Bishop Brady on three downs to open the third quarter, Newport — with Gobin and Ashley back on the field — went 80 yards in 10 plays, including a 25-yard run from Ashley, and finished with Gobin running it in from five yards out. The point after was blocked.
Newport defensive back Tommy Spiker then intercepted a pass on the next Bishop Brady possession.
On the first play from scrimmage, Gobin ran it in from 20 yards out. With a two-point conversion, Newport was back up by 21 and this time did not let Bishop Brady back in the game.
Newport will play in next Saturday’s championship game against either No. 1 Somersworth or No. 4 Raymond (who played under the lights on Saturday). Newport’s only loss of the year was to Somersworth, 35-7, on Sept. 30.
Newport coach John Proper said his team responded well to his advice at halftime.
“I told them, ‘They wanted it more than us in that second quarter,’ ” Proper said. “We started the first half great, but then Gobin goes out and we made a mistake and they capitalize on it. I said it can go two ways in the second half, and they came out and did exactly what I asked.”
Newport relied all day on a solid ground game led by Gobin, who ran for more than 150 yards along with three touchdowns.
Ashley opened the scoring with a 25-yard first-quarter touchdown run. Gobin notched a four-yard TD run at four-minute mark of the opening period. Eric Wilkinson contributed a one-yard run for a 21-0 lead with 9 minutes left in the half before Bishop Brady put up two quick scores.
Defensively, the Tigers completely shut down Bishop Brady’s run game. Although the Green Giants had some success in the air, there were several overthrown passes and some good coverage by Newport. Costly penalties hurt both teams, and that is something Proper said will have to change next week.
“I told them nobody can beat them but themselves,” Proper said.
As he tossed his gear into the back of his pickup, Gobin said his elbow was sore but as for being ready for next week? “Oh, yeah,” he replied.
Patrick O’Grady can be reached at pogclmt@gmail.com.
