Comets survive grind against Sherrard

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SHERRARD – Mike Papoccia got very mad. His Newman Comets defense got very even. 

A pass interference call on Nick Hammer late in the fourth quarter at the Comets' 6-yard line incensed the 30th-year Newman coach during Saturday's Class 3A first-round playoff game against Sherrard.

So what did the Comets do? Carlos Salazar and John LeMay sacked the quarterback, driving the Tigers all the way back to the 21. Sherrard picked up 5 yards on a fourth-down screen pass and Newman regained control.

That was just one of many big efforts the Newman defense came up with in a 9-6 upset win.

"Getting that sack was huge for us," Salazar said. "I always try to be a leader out there. Coach said at half that we had to get to the quarterback because it showed; when we didn't he made big throws."

Salazar had four tackles and three sacks. He was one of three Newman lineman who disrupted Sherrard's offense all day. Shea Banda had 11 tackles and a sack, and R.J. Troye added eight tackles.

"That win is all because of the defense," Papoccia said. "They had that penalty and that could have turned the game around. Instead, they push them back the next couple plays and take them out of scoring position."

Newman had only 104 yards of offense and six first downs, but its defense put the Comets (6-3) in position to score twice.

Sherrard (8-2) started the game by driving to the Newman 20. On fourth down, Newman's Joe Blessman received the first gift of his 17th birthday. Sherrard fullback Nate Breiby fumbled the ball, and Blessman took it 76 yards to the Sherrard 12. 

"That turned the momentum around completely," Blessman said. "I picked up the ball and saw all the guys lining up in front of me and just followed them for as long as I could."

An Austin Hubbard 11-yard run set up Tim Wilson, who powered into the end zone from a yard away. 

Breiby tied the score 6-6 with 10 minutes left in the half on a 2-yard run.

The game stayed tied late into the fourth quarter, when LeMay intercepted Logan Frye's pass and took it 23 yards to Sherrard's 10.

"I had dropped a couple interceptions this year and the guys made a few jokes about it," LeMay said. "I focused on catching that one, and we needed it because the offense was struggling to move the ball."

After the Comets lost 3 yards on three plays, Blessman got another present. Papoccia called on him to kick a field goal.

Blessman kicked a line drive just over the crossbar to give Newman the 9-6 lead with 2:07 left in the third quarter.

"It's a happy birthday, that's for sure," Blessman said.

Sherrard struggled to run the ball with only 53 yards, but Frye finished with 262 passing yards. The Tigers, led by former Bureau Valley coach Jason Kirby, won their first eight games before dropping the last two.

Star of the game: John LeMay, Newman, 13 tackles, 1 interception, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery

Key performers: Carlos Salazar, Newman, 4 tackles, 3 sacks; Joe Blessman, Newman, 20-yard field goal, 76-yard fumble recovery run; Logan Frye, Sherrard, 9 completions, 262 passing yards. 

Up next: Class 2A second round – Oregon at Newman, TBA

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