Newton survives back-and-forth battle with Salthawks

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The clock struck midnight a little too soon on the Hutchinson Salthawks on homecoming Friday night at Gowans Stadium. The Newton Railers played the spoiler as they scored a touchdown on 4th and goal from the Hutchinson 11 yard line with 9 seconds remaining. Ben Schmidt found Joshua Edson in the right corner of the end zone for the game-winning touchdown. Hutch had double coverage, but Edson made an amazing catch to seal the win.

Hutchinson returned the Newton kickoff, but time expired as Alec McCuan couldn’t get the return he needed.

Hutchinson scored first as Isaiah Delvalle ran it in from 7 yards out early in the first quarter. Newton came down and got a 30-yard field goal to cut the score to 7-3 in quarter two.

Newton took the lead on a Peyton Maxwell catch from 32 yards out on 4th and 16 to make it 10-7 Newton at the half.

Hutchinson regained the lead on another Izaiah Delvalle 7-yard TD to make it 14-10. Newton returned the favor with an early 1-yard plunge by Kenyon Forrest, who had 21 carries for 61 yards.

Both teams moved the ball in the second half. Hutch moved the ball on the ground (46 carries for 242 yards) and Newton moved it by air (17-31 for 212 yards and two TDs with just one interception).

Hutch High got another emotional 1-yard Delvalle TD midway through the fourth period to go up 21-17. Delvalle had 20 carries for 114 yards and three touchdowns. Carter Booe converted all three Hutch PATs in his debut as kicker.

Hutchinson got a huge interception with 2:35 to go, but a Barlow fumble gave Newton the chance it needed with under 2 minutes left. Newton needed just 30 yards to find pay dirt. Hutch made the Railers work for it as Newton faced a 4th and 5 from the 7. Newton picked up a first down to make it goal-to-go on the 1 with 19 seconds left. After failing to connect and getting a holding penalty, Ben Schmidt found Joshua Edson on 4th and goal from 11 yards out for the win.

Next up for Hutchinson (1-4) is the Derby Panthers in Derby next Friday, Oct. 11. Newton (2-3) travels to Salina to take on the Salina Central Mustangs.