Newcomb’s speed too much for Eagles

NEWCOMB, N.M.

The Newcomb defeated Navajo Prep 31-0 in their season-opener last Friday.

Newcomb head coach Eric Stovall said it was the kind of win a coach likes to see early in the season.

“We still have a lot of work to do,” he said. “But I’m very proud of the offense, I’m extremely proud of the defense, we didn’t turn over the ball.”

With 7:12 left in the first quarter, Newcomb’s Deondre Begay completed a 20-yard pass to Haundrus Yazzie for a touchdown to lead 6-0. The two- point conversion was unsuccessful.

With 13.30 left in the first quarter, Begay ran for a touchdown for a 12-0 lead.

Navajo Prep head coach Roderick Denetso said, “It’s kind of what we expected. Newcomb’s a good team. They’re well prepared. It’s kind of like holding a mirror in front of us and kind of facing the same team.”

Denetso was an assistant to Stovall last season at Shiprock High and he knew what plays Stovall was going to call and vice versa.

At the start of the second quarter, the Eagles made it to Newcomb’s 16-yard line but coughed up the ball.

Begay threw a 39-yard pass into the end zone at the buzzer and Yazzie caught it, putting the Skyhawks up 18-0 at the half.

Stovall said their success was due to a teamwork ethic on the field and sideline.

“I’m just really excited and proud of our coaches because they’re the ones that coach up our kids and lead them,” he said. “I’m extremely humble and proud of them.”

Denetso said Navajo Prep’s inexperience and first-game jitters showed in the first half.

“It was rough,” Denetso said. “It a little bit of everything. Everything is brand new to these guys – terminology, preparation, just getting focused. Everything is new.”

The Skyhawks scored another touchdown with 5:37 left in the third quarter. Begay handed the ball to Kelkenny Watchman for his 13-yard touchdown run. Newcomb led 24-0.

Navajo Prep made a final attempt late in the third quarter but fell short with an incomplete pass on fourth down.

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