The scheduling for the 2013 high school football season has been released, and all of the Newton County programs are very excited for the upcoming season.
Alcovy’s regular season will begin with an away game at Jones County on Thursday, Aug. 29, while Newton and Eastside play their opening regular season game against each other, with Newton as the home team at Sharp Stadium.
It marks the first of three home games to open the regular season for the Rams.
Newton finished as the No. 2 team in Region 2-AAAAAA last season, winning three games in a row en route to a 5-6 season, and is under the tutelage of first-year coach Terrance Banks. Cortez Allen left Newton to pursue a head coaching job at M.L. King.
Alcovy also reached the playoffs last season, finishing fourth in Region 2-AAAAAA and ending 2012 with a 4-7 record, but has plenty of talent returning in 2013.
“This is going to be one of the better senior class of players to come through,” Alcovy coach Kirk Hoffman said.”
Both Newton and Alcovy coaches say cross-town rivalry games and a matchup against defending Region 2-AAAAAA champion Lovejoy are what they are most looking forward to.
“A lot of our games will be tough,” Banks said. “Six of the teams we play made the playoffs last year, so we have a rough schedule and every game is a tough game.”
Newton, though it has a new school, will continue to play at Sharp Stadium, and will host its homecoming game against Druid Hills Oct. 11. The next week, the Rams will travel to Rockdale and play in the Bulldogs homecoming.
The rivalry game was renewed in 2012 after reclassification with the two teams entering the same region.
“We expect to be competitive in every game and take every game one game at a time.” Banks said. “Our goal is to compete for a region championship and make it to the state playoffs.
All of the Newton County high school teams are very excited about competing against their in-county rivals.
Eastside had the best record of the three Newton County teams last season, going 7-4, winning four games in a row at one time.
The Eagles will have another chance for a streak in 2013, playing four straight home games after opening against Newton and traveling to Jackson.
Newton’s schedule will follow games with Lowndes, Valdosta, Langston Hughes, Alcovy, Druid Hills, Rockdale, Lovejoy, Luella, and Morrow.
Alcovy’s schedule will continue with games against Perry, Eastside, Jackson, Luella, Newton, Morrow, Druid Hills, Rockdale and Lovejoy.
Eastside’s schedule will follow with games against Jackson, Alcovy, Chestatee, Madison County, Lanier, Lumpkin County, Walnut Grove, Stephens County, and Monroe Area.
