The Newberry Bulldogs football team, representing Newberry High School, saw its 16-game regular season winning streak come to an end on Friday, August 28, with a 70-34 road loss to Emerald. This marks the first regular season defeat for the Bulldogs since week five of the 2024 season and the second week of the current season.
The game, played in Greenwood, was challenging from the outset, including a nearly two-hour weather delay. Head Coach Cedrick Jeter’s young squad struggled to counter Emerald’s offense throughout the contest.
Emerald established an early lead, scoring two touchdowns in the opening quarter to take a 14-7 advantage. The second quarter saw the home team add three more touchdowns, extending their lead to 35-20 by halftime. The Bulldogs’ defense continued to face difficulties after the break, conceding another 21 points in the third quarter. While Newberry’s offense managed to score two touchdowns in the third period, it was not enough to overcome the Vikings’ offensive output.
Emerald secured their second win of the season by adding two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs, with a roster featuring many young players, were anticipated to experience some fluctuations this season, making this loss unsurprising to many observers.
The team will now regroup as they prepare to host Clinton this Friday, September 4, for the 100th annual meeting between the two schools, known as the ‘Battle of the Belt.’ This upcoming game is a significant event in the local sports calendar, drawing considerable attention within the Newberry community, particularly among fans of SCHSL Region 4-3A football.
