They say pressure either makes pipes burst or it makes diamonds. Plenty of pressure was on Newton to follow up the win against Valdosta and solidify the Rams as a program to be reckoned with. The only pressure that showed against Central Gwinnett was the pressure from the Rams’ defense.

Things never really looked dire for Newton. Even with Central Gwinnett up 14-0 at the end of the first and the Rams’ offense looking stifled against the Black Knights blitzing attack. Just in the first quarter, the Rams had four possessions that led to four three-and-outs.

Newton’s defense was getting gashed early in the running game. Central running back Nigel Adams was in beast mode, he finished the game with 20 carries for 130 yards. Momentum shifted quickly back to Newton after two-straight illegal kicks helped the Rams get the ball at their own 38.

To counter the pressure from Central Gwinnett, Newton went to its arsenal of quick screens and short passes. It worked wonderfully on the Rams’ first scoring drive.

Johnson found Deandre Huff twice on two quick reads, for a total of 17 yards to get the ball moving. However, if you’ve seen Newton play then you know what Newton’s really working toward, the big play.

That’s what they got. The short passing game had the Black Knights’ defense looking for the underneath passes and that’s when Johnson saw Huff in single coverage behind the corner and lofted up a 39-yard pass for a score to put the Rams on the board. The PAT was blocked and Newton trailed 14-6 in the second quarter.

The Rams defense stepped up big after the two scores from Central Gwinnett. A.J. Palomino, Nuka Yoba and Jaquan Henderson were flying all over the field bottling up holes, causing pressure and forcing bad passes.

“We letting our kids play now. We just turn them loose. We’ve found what they do best and we’re just letting our players make plays. It’s not about the coaching, all I gotta do is put them in spots. It’s the boys. The boys are playing, I’m just letting them do their thing and putting them in the right spot,” Banks said.

Before the game, Banks said that the three keys to the game were, turnovers, field position and playing the next play. The Rams won in all three categories. Banks also said that the Black Knights’ defense was outstanding and that their defense wanted to force Newton into long second and third downs and drop back to keep everything in front of them.
Well, that’s what happened...to Central Gwinnett.

Palomino fired up the middle on almost every play to either make a play in the running game or get pressure on the Black Knights’ quarterback – Nick Partlow – who finished the day 3-15 for 35 yards with two interceptions.

The Rams’ secondary played well too. They did a good job of blanketing receivers and not letting anyone get behind them, but it’s hard to do that when the quarterback has all day to throw. Newton’s front seven made sure that the didn’t happen, sacking Partlow multiple times, both Palomino and Henderson had at least one sack.

On offense the Rams were back in business in the secon quarter. On their second scoring drive, a penalty – which hounded the Rams all night – called back another Huff touchdown and forced the Rams to go for a field goal, which was good.

The third quarter was a back and forth affair for both teams, but there was no scoring. Then in the fourth quarter Johnson ran in for the one-yard score to give Newton a 15-14 lead after the conversion was no good.

“He’s the leader of our team,” Banks said. “The Gwinnett Daily Post said all (Central Gwinnett) had to do was shut down No. 8 and they would win. They couldn’t do it. He’s a hard man to shut down.”

Newton’s defense never looked better the entire game than it did in the fourth. After Newton scored, Central Gwinnett’s offense found life, but Steven Montac quickly snatched back the soul of the Black Knights when he recovered a fumble and returned it near midfield.

Later in the quarter on fourth-and-seven with the Black Knights in their own territory they went for it when Partlow went deep down the middle of the field, but Davonta Jones came up big with an interception, as he ran the ball back to the Newton 23-yard line.

The Rams ran as much of the clock out as they could, but Central Gwinnett got the ball back with a few seconds left on the clock, enough time for two plays. The first was a batted down pass. The second had Partlow dropping back with pressure in his face. Partlow managed to get the ball off as he got hit, but the hit was enough to affect the throw and it landed in Rams’ player’s hands to give Newton its first-ever appearance in the third round of the state playoffs.