Newton can now focus on the playoffs after dispatching Morrow 40-0 at Tara Stadium Friday night.

The Rams (5-5, 5-1 Region 2-AAAAAA) were looking to fine-tune things before hosting East Coweta in the first round of the state playoffs this coming Friday and did just that.

"We came out and made sure we did things that we were happy with," Newton coach Cortez Allen said. "We fine-tuned some thigns and came out and accomplished what we wanted to do tonight."

Leading the charge was sophomore quarterback Kemani Pittman, who had 155 yards of total offense, with 70 coming on 10 carries and 85 on 7-for-12 passing. He had two touchdowns on the ground and two through the air.
The Rams dominated on the ground to the tune of yards paced by James Hardeman with on carries.

"We got the running game going," Allen said. "Kemani did a good job running the ball and James did an outstanding job running the ball tonight, and they held on to the ball when we did run."

Newton finished with 325 yards on 52 carries, and had 410 yards of total offense, while coming up with its first shutout of the season, and first since a 21-0 win over Shiloh on Aug. 26, 2011. James Hardeman led the way with 166 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries.

The Rams got things going on the ground, eating up yards on the opening kickoff.

Nick White ran the opening kickoff 45 yards to put the Rams on Morrow's 40-yard line, and from there it was all Newton.

Newton marched the rest of the way before Pittman scored on a 4-yard run just one minute, 20 seconds into the contest.

Pittman's first touchdown pass came for 20 yards to Darion Kinsey for with 3:01 left in the first quarter. Pittman also had an 11-yard, third-down pass on the drive to keep it alive.

Newton's next touchdown was also Pittman's next scoring pass. This time the sophomore found David Comer for a 33-yard score. The pass-and-catch put Newton up 20-0 with 10:09 left in the second quarter. Pittman kept the drive alive with an 11-yard run.

On the Rams next possession, with the facing fourth down and 10 from Morrow's 32, Pittman again helped maintain a drive. He pulled it down and ran for 14 yards for the first down. Pittman would score on a 4-yard run for a 27-0 lead with 2:01 left.

"He was just being cautious, because there was no need for any unnecessary turnovers," Allen said. "He did a great job and showed a lot of growth."

After Newton fumbled for its only turnover of the night, Comer came up with an interception to negate the turnover.
The Rams used nine plays on the ensuing 74-yard drive, which ended in James Hardeman's 8-yard touchdown run to go up 34-0 with 4 minutes left in the third quarter.

Artice Hobbs scored Newton's final touchdown f the regular season o a 13-yard touchdown and the extra point missed for the final margin.

"We pretty well did what we expected to come out and do," Allen said. "We got a chance to get some seniors some touches."