Newport outlasted Bothell 28-24 behind a pair of Miles Fowler touchdown receptions and a committed rushing attack that also yielded two scores.
Junior quarterback Isaac Dotson got his team started on the first drive of the game, going in from four yards out to make it 7-0. Two possessions later, Neil Hones intercepted Bothell signal-caller Austen Dahl to give his team the ball back with just over two minutes remaining in the first quarter. After moving to the Bothell one yard line on another carry from Dotson, Hones went in to make it 13-0 Newport.
The Cougars answered with a touchdown of their own from junior running back Kizham Proctor and a 31-yard field goal to make it 13-10 at the half. After beginning its first drive of the third quarter deep in Knights’ territory after a long kick return and personal foul penalty, Proctor added his second score of the night to put his team in front 17-13.
But it was too much Dotson down the stretch.
Newport faced a 4th and two from the Bothell nine yard line, but were pushed back ten yards after consecutive delay of game penalties. Head coach Mike Miller opted to keep his offense on the field instead of attempt the field goal and his quarterback made sure the gamble paid off when he hit junior Miles Fowler for a sixteen yard score.
“13 [Dotson] is a great player,” Bothell head coach Tom Bainter said after the game. “He can do it all- he throws the ball, runs the ball, he runs that offense really well.”
The Cougars tried to grab momentum back with a 92-yard kickoff return from William McIntyre, but Dotson again drove his team the length of the field and again hit Fowler in the end zone to go back on top 28-24.
Bothell’s final two possessions ended with a punt and interception by senior defensive back Nate Anderson and the Knights were able to chew up the five minutes and 20 seconds of clock with their patented run game.
Newport will travel to Cascade next week before hosting Eastlake and Skyline in consecutive weeks.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, Newport coaches and players were not available for comment after the game.
Other games
Bellevue used a pair of kickoff returns for touchdowns from Budda Baker to beat Interlake 42-20.
The Saints, after already being victimized by Baker on the opening kick of the game, opted instead to kick the ball out of bounds. But the Wolverines chose to make Interlake kick the ball again and when they did, Baker took over. He also had an interception on the night.
The Wolverines face Lake Washington next week.
Bellevue Christian moved its record to 2-0 after a 40-21 win over Evergreen (Seattle) on Friday at Lake Washington High School. Quarterback Kemper McQuaid went 16-26 through the air for 305 yards and four touchdowns.
BCS fell behind early, but rebounded to take a 26-7 lead into the half.
Bryce Oldham, Rajan Hanstad and Nick Schubert all caught touchdown passes from McQuaid. Austin Razor added a rushing score and Josh Hazen took an interception back 50 yards for a first-half touchdown.
The Vikings will travel to La Conner for their first road game of the year next Friday night.
Sammamish fell to 0-3 with a 54-7 loss at the hands of previously winless Liberty. The Totems will be back in action for the third of four straight away games next week against Juanita.
