HOSCHTON, Ga. -- Brock Blake threw three interceptions in relief of an injured Myron Middlebrooks, and the Newton offense mustered just 56 total yards as the Rams lost to No.1 Mill Creek 41-0, ending their season in the first round of the Class AAAAAAA playoffs. 

Mill Creek opened up the scoring with a 14 yard touchdown pass from Cameron Turley to Joey Gump. It appeared that Gump may have stepped out of bounds before coming down with the ball, but the officials called it a score. 

Brenton King then connected on field goals of 32 and 39 yards in consecutive first quarter drives to give the Hawks a 13-0 lead. After the Newton defense held serve for several series, a crucial offensive miscue set up Mill Creek’s next score. 

It happened when quarterback Blake threw his first pick to Matthew Winston who returned it 55 yards to the Newton 12 yard line. Turley then promptly threw a 12 yard scoring strike to stretch Mill Creek’s lead to 20-0. 

Robert Black tried to provide a spark for Newton when he picked off a tipped Turley pass and returned it 36 yards, with just one man to beat for a score. But Newton’s offense couldn’t capitalize in Mill Creek territory, failing to convert on a fourth and short. Afterward, Turley would later find Trey Turner on a 29-yard post pattern to the end zone, which made it 27-0, Mill Creek at the half.

Mill Creek continued to pour it on in the third quarter, with another 32-yard touchdown toss from Turley — this one went to Preston Norwood who dragged a couple of Newton defenders into the end zone with. Then Victor Haywood grabbed what would be Blake’s third interception and took it to the house to provide the final margin. 

Newton’s season ends with a 6-4-1 mark, while Mill Creek moves on to face Cherokee in the second round of the Class AAAAAAA playoffs. 

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