Wildcats win three of last four to make playoffs

The Trumann Wildcats continued their late-season surge with a 35-21 victory over Newport in the regular-season finale for both teams on Friday night.

Trumann quarterback Blaike Jones rushed for 167 yards on 26 carries and added 161 yards passing and two touchdowns through the air to give the Wildcats (4-6, 4-3 4A-3) three wins in their past four games.

The game was tied 21-21 early in the third quarter after Newport's Quadarius Ross scored from 31 yards out and Ryan McGaughey added the extra point. Trumann responded minutes later on a 43-yard pass from Jones to Dustin Miller to make it 28-14 after the extra point.

The Wildcats added a 3-yard plunge from Jones with 9:49 left in the game to set the final score, and the Wildcats defense held the Greyhounds offense in check the rest of the way.

The Wildcats struck first on a 5-yard score from Kervin Dunhoo with 7:57 to play in the first half before Newport came back with a 45-yard run from McGaughey to pull within a point at 7-6 three minutes later.

Dunhoo scored again early in the second quarter, and Newport responded with a 10-yard run from Darrion Watkins. McGaughey ran in the 2-point conversion to tie the score at 14. Just 1:40 later, Jones found Justin Stevens for a 23-yard touchdown and Trumann led 21-14 at the half.

Trumann Coach Greg White admitted this was a big win for the Wildcats. "This win makes all those negatives from earlier in the season just kind of go away," he said. "The kids were focused and they played really well the whole game. I was really pleased with our defense. Newport has a high-octane offense and we were able to hold them."

White was also pleased with Jones performance as he had over 300 yards of total offense and threw for two touchdowns and ran one in.

"This was the biggest win here in a real long time," White said. "Hopefully we can continue this and make a nice run in the playoffs."

The Wildcats will play the Dover High School Pirates this Thursday in Dover. White noted this is about a three hour trip for the team. He said Dover is a good team that his Wildcat squad will have to stay focused on.