Arp is on a seven-game streak of home wins, while Newton is on a four-game streak of away wins: one of those streaks is about to end. The Tigers will welcome the Eagles at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Arp is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Friday. They blew past Edgewood 49-28. The final result isn't all that surprising considering the Tigers' considerable advantage in MaxPreps' Texas football rankings (they are ranked 144th, while the Bulldogs are ranked 291st).
On the defensive side of the ball, a lot of the credit has to go to Arp's defense and their five sacks. In that department, Chrisden Ellis was the leader with three. Zyon Washington got in on the action too, converting a pick into a touchdown.
Meanwhile, Newton's offense rose to the challenge against a Tigers defense that boasted an average of only 14.15 points allowed on Friday. The Eagles took their game with ease, bagging a 46-13 win over Troup.
Newton's win came from a few key players Arp will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Kendray Porter, who rushed for 153 yards and a pair of TDs. The team also got some help courtesy of Deldrick Samuel, who rushed for 121 yards and one touchdown on only 15 carries.
Newton was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 416 rushing yards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now rushed for at least 177 rushing yards in 11 consecutive matchups.
Newton didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off three passes before the game was over. It was truly a group effort as Dayland Alfred, Samuel, and Braylen Patterson picked up one apiece.
Arp's record now sits at 12-1. As for Newton, their record is now an identical 12-1.
Friday's contest might be decided on the ground. Arp has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 282.2 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Newton struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 281 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's game turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Arp was taken down by Newton 58-0 in their previous matchup back in November of 2017. Thankfully for the Tigers, Darwin Barlow (who rushed for 143 yards and four scores on only 11 carries, and also caught a pair of TDs) won't be suiting up this time. Will that be enough to change the final result? There's only one way to find out.
