Newport turned to its ground game and a pair of explosive plays from Jameson Cummins and Landon Cigic to pull away from Susquenita for a 34-19 victory.
The Buffaloes rushed for 288 yards and finished with 388 yards of total offense. Cummins led the rushing attack with 126 yards and a touchdown, while Cigic contributed as both a runner and receiver and scored twice through the air.
Susquenita struck first late in the opening quarter. Julian Boyer scored on a 15-yard run with 1:41 remaining, and AJ Castellucio added the extra point to give the Blackhawks a 7-0 lead.
Newport answered early in the second quarter when Johnny Mayeresky scored on a four-yard run. Logan Bates’ extra point tied the game at 7-7.
Susquenita regained the lead when quarterback Kalen Fleisher connected with Hunter Mitchell for a 49-yard touchdown pass with 6:45 left in the half. The extra point was blocked, leaving the Blackhawks ahead 13-7.
Newport responded just before halftime with one of the game’s biggest plays. Bates found Cigic for a 64-yard touchdown with 38 seconds remaining, and Bates added the extra point to send the Buffaloes into halftime with a 14-13 advantage.
The third quarter proved to be the difference.
On the opening stages of the second half, Cummins broke free for a 62-yard touchdown run, extending Newport’s lead to 21-13. Later in the quarter, Nolan Smith scored from one yard out, and Bates’ extra point gave the Buffaloes a 28-13 advantage heading into the fourth.
Susquenita attempted to rally when Fleisher connected with Boyer for a 16-yard touchdown with 9:33 remaining. The two-point pass failed, leaving Newport’s lead at 28-19.
The Buffaloes put the game away with 3:12 remaining. Bates connected with Cigic for a six-yard touchdown, Cigic’s second receiving score of the game, to produce the final 34-19 margin.
Newport’s rushing attack controlled the night, producing 288 yards on 41 attempts. Cummins carried 17 times for 126 yards and a touchdown, while Cigic added 57 yards on seven attempts. Bates contributed 44 yards on four carries, Mayeresky rushed for 32 yards and a touchdown, and Khriztopher Granados added 25 yards.
Bates didn’t have to throw often, but he made his completions count. He finished 4-of-10 for 100 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. Cigic caught two passes for 70 yards, with both receptions resulting in touchdowns. Smith added a 20-yard reception, while Myles Devlin caught one pass for 10 yards.
Susquenita found most of its offensive success through the air. Fleisher completed 16 of 25 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns but was intercepted once. Rex Wilson completed one of three attempts for six yards, giving the Blackhawks 258 passing yards.
Mitchell led Susquenita’s receiving corps with four catches for 86 yards and a touchdown. Wilson had four receptions for 55 yards, Christian Boyer caught three passes for 52 yards, and Julian Boyer added three catches for 35 yards and a touchdown.
Julian Boyer also led the Blackhawks on the ground, carrying 18 times for 82 yards and a touchdown. Newport’s defense held Susquenita to just 63 net rushing yards as a team.
Mayeresky came up with Newport’s interception, while Noah Sarver recorded a sack. Darrien Reed registered Susquenita’s sack.
Susquenita finished with 321 total yards compared with Newport’s 388, but the Buffaloes’ advantage on the ground and their ability to generate big plays proved decisive. After trailing 13-7 in the second quarter, Newport outscored Susquenita 27-6 the rest of the way to secure the 34-19 victory.
Susquenita 7 6 0 6–19
Newport 0 14 14 6–34
1st
S-Julian Boyer 15 run (AJ Castellucio kick), 1:41
2nd
N-Johnny Mayeresky 4 run (Logan Bates kick), 11:51
S-Hunter Mitchell 49 pass from Kalen Fleisher (kick blocked), 6:45
N-Landon Cigic 64 pass from Bates (Bates kick), 0:38
3rd
N-Jameson Cummins 62 run (Bates kick), 11:10
N-Nolan Smith 1 run (Bates kick), 1:26
4th
S-Boyer 16 pass from Fleisher (pass failed), 9:33
N-Cigic 6 pass from Bates (kick blocked), 3:12
S N
FDs 15 13
Rush-yds 27-63 41-288
Passing 258 100
C-A-I 17-28-1 4-10-0
Tot Yds 321 388
Punts/Avg 2-35.5 2-28
Fumbles-Lost 3-0 1-1
Pen-Yds 7-65 7-73
3rd downs Cons 3-11 6-10
4th downs Cons 3-6 1-2
Rushing
S–Julian Boyer 18-82, Kalen Fleisher 6-(-2), Christian Boyer 1-(-2), Jake Herrera 1-(-3),Team 1-(-12)
N–Jameson Cummins 17-126, Landon Cigic 7-57, Logan Bates 4-44, Johnny Mayeresky 4-32, Khriztopher Granados 6-25, Myles Devlin 1-3, Nolan Smith 1-1, Team 1-0.
Passing
S–Kalen Fleisher 16-25, 252, 2 TDs, INT, Rex Wilson 1-3, 6
N–Logan Bates 4-10, 100, 2 TDs.
Receiving
S–Hunter Mitchell 4-86, Rex Wilson 4-55, Christian Boyer 3-52, Julian Boyer 3-35, Joel McNaughton 2-24, Jake Herrera 1-6
N–Landon Cigic 2-70, Nolan Smith 1-20, Myles Devlin 1-10..
INTs: N–Johnny Mayeresky
Sacks–S–Darrien Reed; N-Noah Sarver