NEWBERRY — Newberry High’s Amir Abrams needed 65 yards to surpass 5,000 yards for his career and one touchdown to reach the 80 touchdown milestone.
The senior ended the night with 221 yards and five scores as the third-ranked Bulldogs are now 7-0 on the season after their 49-21 victory over seventh-ranked Broome Friday at Mike Ware Field.
The first offensive play of the evening was an interception and Marcus Moore put Newberry 22 yards from the end zone just 18 seconds into the game.
Quarterback Tyriq Goodman’s pass could only be caught by Jaleel Gilliam. He had a perfect angle on the 26-yard touchdown reception over his right shoulder for the 7-0 score after Ulises Benitez converted his first-of-seven PAT kicks on the evening.
Broome notched the score up at 7-7 with a three-yard run and PAT kick with 5:35 left in the first stanza.
Aside from two plays of their seven-play 68-yard touchdown drive, Abrams got the call the other five times and scored from 10 yards out to score his 80th touchdown for the 14-7 score with 2:16 left in the first quarter.
The first play of the second quarter saw Abrams surpass the 5,000-yard plateau with a seven-yard run. Newberry would punt five plays later.
One play after stopping Broome on a fourth-and-five, Newberry fumbled over to Broome at its 30.
The game would be tied once again five plays later with a 10-yard run with six minutes left in the first half.
Looking at a third-and-12 from its 46, Goodman went to the air to find a wide-open Gilliam for a 24-yard pick-up down to the 20.
Abrams scored three plays later from three yards out for the 21-14 score at the 2:18 mark of the second stanza.
Holding Broome to their third three-and-out of the evening, Newberry had just over a minute to try to gain a lot of momentum, as they would also receive the second half kick-off.
Marching 67 yards in five plays, Newberry ended its fourth scoring drive of the night with a one-yard run by Abrams with 20 seconds left in the half.
For the half, Broome had 131 yards of offense, with all but 14 of them coming from the ground.
Newberry, meanwhile, had already accumulated 230 yards, with 120 of them coming through the air.
Three plays into the third quarter, Newberry fumbled over to Broome just 10 yards from the end zone.
Newberry’s James Werts recovered a Broome fumble four plays later.
Abrams scored his fourth touchdown of the evening four plays later with a three-yard run for the 35-21 score with 8:25 left in the third.
Starting off after a Broome punt at its 22, Newberry went to the air only one time on a four-play drive.
Gilliam scored on a 41-yard pass reception as Newberry had accumulated a 42-14 advantage at the 3:54 mark of the third stanza.
Broome ended Newberry’s 28-point run with a 23-yard run for the 41-21 score with 2:04 left in the third.
The scoring for both teams ended three plays into the fourth quarter with Abrams scoring from 11-yards out.
Broome fumbled over to Kentrell Caldwell on its last offensive play of the evening.
The Centurions were held to only 14 yards through the air of their 320 yards of total offense.
Gilliam caught four passes for 121 yards, Robinson (1-7), Darius Stephens-York (1-29), while Zymere Epps had a lone reception for 22 yards.
Abrams ended the night with 221 yards on 27 carries. He now has 5176 yards for his career and has scored 84 touchdowns.
Robinson had five carries for 27 yards, Goodman (8-10), Marcus Moore (1- -5), Kentrell Caldwell (3-19), Ahmad Willis (1-7), Zay Chalmers (2-16), and Tailyn Caldwell had three carries for four yards.
The Newberry offense had possession of the ball 27:33. While Broome never led during the evening, they were tied with Newberry two times for a total of seven minutes.
Newberry (7-0, 2-0 Region 3-3A) will travel to Clinton on Friday. The Red Devils are 3-4 on the season and 1-1 in regional play, with a win over Mid-Carolina and a loss to Chapman.
A Newberry win would give the Bulldogs their first 3-0 start in regional play since the 2009 season.