news-record.com

GREENSBORO - Page quarterback Will Newman wasn't about to sit on the bench for what could be his last home game.

Newman, suffering from turf toe, didn't start the Pirates first round 4-A playoff game against High Point Central and watched the Page offense struggle. He entered the game late in the first quarter and helped lead the Pirates to a 28-7 win.

Newman finished with 114 yards rushing and two touchdowns. He also threw for 88 yards and another score.

"The offense was looking pretty shaky," Newman said. "This is playoffs. I had to suck it up and do what it took to win."

Newman gave a lot of the credit to the offensive line, which opened up some huge holes for Newman and Tim Clay, who scored on a 38-yard run in the third quarter.

"Our offensive line started off slow, but they really stepped it up," Newman said. "I told them that we are seniors and we aren't going to lose our last home game. We have to start playing like we can play and finish strong."

Newman started the scoring for the Pirates with a nifty 32-yard scamper on a fake handoff up the middle. Newman found a hole behind the running back and then cut outside to the sideline, going untouched into the end zone for a 7-0 lead.

That is where the score stood at halftime.

Clay's run in the third quarter gave Page (8-5) firm control with a 13-0 lead. Two posessions later, Newman hit Brad Workinger for a 27-yard pass and then found Clay for a 17-yard touchdown pass making the score 21-0 late in the third quarter.

After High Point Central (6-6) scored, Newman added another touchdown run, this time from 37 yards out, putting the game out of reach.

"He did a good job which is what we expect," said Page coach Kevin Gillespie. "I try not to single out one individual because this is a team. He is starting to see that like a lot of other players and he is starting to buy into that."

While Newman got the Page offense going, the defense was quietly going about its business, shutting out the Bison through three quarters. It helped that they sacked High Point quarterback Drew Adams on the first pass he threw, knocking him out of the game until late in the third quarter.

"I felt pretty good matching up with them against the run," Gillespie said. "With Desmeion Kenndy, he is dangerous no mattter where he lines up, but we did a good job. And when their other quarterback came back in, we did a really good job except for that one drive."

The Pirates will play at home against Fayetteville Westover, a 16-13 upset winner over Chapel Hill, in the next round. Both Newman and Gillespie see the Pirates as a tough opponent for Westover

"We're peaking at the right time," Newman said. "We feel like we can make it to states."

"They will be good," Gillespie said. "But we are going to be a challenge for them. We are going to be a tough out for somebody."

Newman added that his turf toe had improved all week and he expected to be better by next Friday.

P - Will Newman 32 run (Austin Anthony kick)

P - Tim Clay 38 run (kick blocked)

P - Clay 17 pass from Newman (Lenny Gordon run)

HPC - Desmeion Kenndy 5 run (Austin Miller kick)

P - Newman 37 run (Austin Anthony kick)