Berwick can't keep pace with Newman in 48-23 loss

Isidore Newman’s offense was just too much for Berwick to keep pace with as the Panthers fell 48-23 Friday night in nondistrict contest.
Newman, ranked No. 6 in the latest Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 2A poll, led 20-10 at the break, but the Greenies outscored Berwick 28-13 in the second half.
Newman forced a Berwick punt, which went out of bounds, to begin the third quarter and got 15 more yards via a penalty to put the ball at the Berwick 32.
On first down, quarterback Martin Butcher connected with Jarmone Sutherland for a 29-yard completion to the Berwick 3, while two plays later, Butcher and Sutherland hooked up for a touchdown with 10:21 left. Newman’s extra point was good for a 27-10 lead with 10:21 remaining in the third quarter.
Newman and Berwick traded touchdowns to end the third quarter as the Greenies extended their lead to 34-10 after a Butcher 48-yard completion to Murray Calhoun with 2:55 remaining, while Josh Jones followed with a 44-yard touchdown run on Berwick’s next possession with 4 seconds remaining. Newman led 34-17 after Seth Canty’s point-after attempt.
The teams then traded touchdowns to begin the fourth quarter as Newman scored quickly following the Berwick touchdown at the end of the third quarter. Butcher connected with Calhoun for a 46-yard touchdown pass. A successful point-after attempt gave Newman a 41-17 lead with 11:06 remaining in the game.
Berwick countered with a Mitchell Sanford 23-yard run with 8:55 remaining. Sanford’s two-point run was no good for a 41-23 Newman lead.
Newman scored its final touchdown on its next possession with Joseph Pleasant reaching the end zone on an 18-yard run with 3:18 remaining. With a successful extra point, Newman led 48-23.
Early on, Newman took a 6-0 lead via a Butcher 23-yard pass to Calhoun in the first quarter.
The Greenies extended their advantage to 13-0 with 2:11 remaining in the first quarter when T.J. Bush scored on a touchdown run.
Berwick counted with a two-play drive.
After Sanford connected with Barrett Hover for a 56-yard completion, Jones scored on a 9-yard run with 1:26 remaining in the first quarter for a 13-7 lead.
Berwick cut its deficit to 13-10 with 2:48 remaining in the half on a Canty 25-yard field goal, before Newman scored on its next drive via a Bush 17-yard run. The point-after attempt gave Newman a 20-10 lead with 1:45 remaining in the first half.
Newman finished the game with 450 yards of offense (257 rushing and 193 passing).
Butcher accounted for all of Newman’s passing yards as he threw for 257 with four scores.
Berwick totaled 330 yards of offense (133 rushing and 197 passing).
Jones rushed 16 times for 101 yards and two scores for Berwick, while Sanford added five carries for 24 yards and a touchdown.
Sanford completed 13 of 27 passes for 197 yards with one interception.
Hover was his top receiver with four catches for 80 yards, while Canty had a 42-yard reception.
Additional reporting by The New Orleans Advocate.