The game was all but over. Rockdale was nine yards away from the endzone and led Newton 26-21 with just over five minutes to go. On third and nine Steven Montac jumped a route and intercepted a Zuri Minnifield pass and the Rams were back in business at their own five-yard line.

For most of the game, Newton had mixed it up with the run and pass. But on their final drive, the Rams ran the ball eight times for 62 yards and benefitted from a couple of Rockdale penalties to get the ball to the Rockdale 11-yard line with less than 30 seconds left in the game.

The Bulldogs dropped a potential game-saving interception when Romario Johnson tried to hit Davonta Jones on a slant, and that drop would prove costly. Johnson found Khamari Robinson for the game-winning touchdown on a hitch route. The Rams went for two and got it. But the game wasn’t over.

The Bulldogs’ TJ Warren returned the ensuing kickoff to Newton’s 43-yard line down three, there was hope. Minnifield tried to find Warren on an route and Warren made the catch but was ruled out of bounds. However, a Rams’ penalty gave Rockdale some extra yardage and the Bulldogs looked to win the game.

Minnifield scrambled out to his left looking for a receiver, but saw no one and a Newton defender came flying in from the right batting down the pass and ending the game.

Rams head coach Terrance Banks said, “Excuse my french but that was a (heck) of a football game man. That was a fight for 48 minutes and I’m proud of my boys, they fought to the end. It was a great game.”