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Don Gronning
PRIEST RIVER – The Newport Grizzlies intercepted the ball three times and broke a 90yard kickoff return for a touchdown in a 35-8 win Friday night, Sept. 12 at Priest River.
Newport coach Mark Duxbury said the Grizzlies played well in all aspects of the game - offense, defense and special teams.
“It was truly a team win for us,” he said. “Field position was in our advantage for most of the night due to special teams and defense.”
Priest River lost their top ball carrier in the opening drive. Colton Kuprienko left the game with an ankle injury.
“Up to that point, we were moving the ball effectively but losing him that early was a real setback on both sides of the ball,” Priest River coach Alex Zepeda said.
Duxbury said Newport took over on downs on their own 34-yard line midway in the first quarter, the first time they got the ball.
Newport’s 14-play drive was capped with a 10-yard Jacob Reimers touchdown run early in the second quarter.
The PAT was successfully kicked by Damian Hamberg, who didn’t miss an extra point kick all night.
Priest River answered with a successful 70yard drive, resulting in Layton Goins punching in a 2-yard TD run. The Spartans took their only lead of the game when Goins converted the 2-point PAT run, going up 8-7.
After trading punts, Newport quarterback Brad Martin made a short run for a go-ahead score.
Martin went on to intercept a Lucas Matthews’ pass just before halftime, the first of three interceptions for Newport.
Newport started the second half with a 90yard kickoff return for a TD by Kutter Driver.
Driver then picked off a Matthews’ pass, returning it to inside Priest River’s 30-yard line.
When Martin left the field for a couple plays with a leg cramp, Driver took over at quarterback. He threw a risky pass across the middle that was tipped by Spartan defenders, but Newport’s Dylan Aubrey came away with the ball in the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown reception.
Newport’s next score came when Martin passed to Reimers for another Newport TD.
Driver continued to cause problems for the Spartans, intercepting his second pass with a little over two minutes left in the game. Newport got the 35-8 win.
Duxbury says Hamberg came through as kicker. In addition to four extra-point kicks, all but one of his kickoffs resulted in a touchback, forcing the Spartans to start from their own 20-yard line.
Martin had a big night, completing five of five passes for 78 yards and a touchdown. He also gained 14 yards and a touchdown rushing.
Driver rushed for 43 yards on a dozen carries. In addition to the kickoff return for a touchdown, he threw the 11-yard TD pass to Aubrey. Reimers scored two touchdowns, one on a run and another on a pass reception.
Hamberg got a sack on defense. Ares Swain also got a sack.
For Priest River, Nate Fergert had 43 yards on 14 carries. Kuprienko had 34 yards on five carries, Goins ran nine time for 21 yards and a touchdown and Matthews gained 17 yards on six carries. Matthews completed 10 of 20 passes. Goins caught four passes for 41 yards, Kane Berns caught three passes for 29 yards and Fergert caught a pair for 14 yards.
Zepeda said Kuprienko’s ankle isn’t broken but he doesn’t know how long he may be out.
“We expect to know more about his status later in the week,” he said.
Zepeda said it was a tough loss. Duxbury said the Newport team was extra motivated when they found out that Priest River wanted to play them for homecoming.
Next week the Spartans travel to Kettle Falls for a non-league game Friday, Sept. 19.
Newport is also on the road to Ritzville Friday for a league game with Lind-Ritzville. Both games start at 7 p.m.
