PHEBA – The Hebron Eagles saw a lot of strength and talent leave at graduation last season, but that didn’t keep the returning players from putting up a serious fight against Newton Academy last Friday night.

Newton Academy got on the board in the second quarter, but Mark Vaughan blocked the PAt the Eagles came right back at them. J.D. Edwards scored on a nine-yard pass from QB Yance Faulkner in the third and Faulkner hit Blake Harrell in the fourth for a 26-yard reception and TD to put the Eagles ahead 12-6.

Newton scored in the fourth to tie and Vaughan held them there with another PAT block.

OT

Newton scored on their OT possession and the Eagles looked to do the same, but an incomplete pass on the goal line nixed their efforts and gave the visitors the 18-6 win.

Stats

The Eagles posted some pretty impressive stats on their first outing with Edwards scoring a TD and gaining 76 yards rushing. Faulkner had 136 yards in the air with two TD in his first start under center and also jumped into the WR position for a 40-yard reception from Harrell.

Harrell had 103 all-purpose yards including a 26-yard reception from Faulkner.

Rushing yards were spread across several players with Marquise Robinson gaining 62; Edwards recording 76; Harrell posting 21. Jordan Jackson contributed 14 rushing yards and Ryan Pinnix had 45 with a total of 325 offensive yards gained in the bout.

On defense, the Eagles had several bright spots with Hearne Foster recording seven solo tackles and causing a fumble. Faulkner had six solos and two assists; William Allen Westbrook had one solo, four assists and one sack; Edwards had three solos, one interception run back for 40 yards; Pinnix had five solos and two assists; Vaughan had four solos and one assist; Jae Shaw had four solos and one assist.

Upcoming

The Eagles will head to DeSoto, Ark., to take on the defending State champs this Friday.