Coming into 5A District 5 play for both the Emporia Spartans and the Newton Railers, a new season was going to restart. Since wins in the district count for playoffs, teams can throw the regular season records out of the book and start new. Emporia ranked No. 3 in 5A after dropping a 40-26 loss to 6A-ranked Topeka at Emporia last Friday Night. Newton was coming off a 40-10 loss against 5A No. 2 ranked Salina South.
Emporia proved why they are ranked in class 5A with a 48-27 win on the road against Newton.
The Spartans got things started after a Newton punt that was blocked by Oklahoma State Commit Jerel Morrow. Emporia started at the Railer 27-yard line, and eventually J.L. Savage scored on a 15-yard run. Newton tied the game at seven all with 5:18 in the first as Derrick Garnica scored on an eight yard run. Newton then tried an onside kick, but Emporia recovered. Emporia took only three plays to score as quarterback Braxton Marstall connected with Savage for 55 yards.
Senior Dylan Jackson, who had a big night running the ball, scored his first touchdown of five on the night on a 55-yard run making it 21-7 late in the second quarter. Jackson scored his second with 9:11 in the third on a two-yard run making it 27-7.
The third quarter could best be described as back-and-forth. Newton tried to make a comeback in the third quarter as the Railers cut the deficit to 13 on Garnica's second touchdown of the night, a 37-yard run.
Jackson of Emporia answered back , scoring his third touchdown on a 31-yard run.
Back came Newton, this time it was senior quarterback Coleman Kingsley scoring on a two-yard run.
Newton went back-to-back touchdowns after getting the ball on an Emporia fumble and Garnica ran in from two yards.
Emporia ran away with the game in the fourth quarter with two touchdowns, both by Jackson.
Coach Dustin Delaney said his team capitalized after the tough loss to Topeka.
“Offensively we were good, we have some things to work on before a good Andover team comes to play us at home,” Delaney said.
For Marstall, it was a great win to start district play.
“We came out and played, DJ (Jackson) came out and ran the ball and made my job a lot easier,” Marstall said. “Defensively we were pretty good as well.”
For Jackson, it was a banner night as he went over the 1,000 yard mark on the season.
“I had some great blocking from my O-line and I just busted through trying to get as many yards as I could,” Jackson said.
Individually for Emporia Jackson was the leading rusher with 24 carries for 257 yards and five touchdowns. Marstall was nine of 13 for 164 yards and Savage had three catches for 102 yards.
For Newton Kingsley was the leading rusher with 33 carries for 177 yards, he also was 10 of 15 passing for 110 yards. Newton’s leading receiver was Sophomore Jack Kingsley with eight catches for 72 yards.
Emporia (6-1, 1-0 District) will host Andover next Friday, while Newton (2-5, 0-1 District) will go to Valley Center. Andover defeated Valley Center in the other District game 20-8.
