For the first time in the Ed Johnson era, Newberry will have to wait until at least Week 4 for its first win.
After losses to University Christian and Hawthorne to open the season, the Panthers on Friday fell to 0-3 for the first time since 2018 after a 27-3 loss at home to Vanguard (Ocala).
“Frustrating would be an accurate word, but I think we kind of knew that could happen,” said Johnson, the Panthers’ seventh-year head coach. “It’s three really quality opponents. I wish we played better in those games.”
Vanguard quarterback Terrance Lewis accounted for four touchdowns with three passing and one rushing. Newberry did not get points until a 35-yard field goal by Kaiden Bush late in the third quarter. The Panthers have now been outscored 106-24 through the first three weeks of the season.
Lewis began the scoring with a six-yard touchdown pass to De’sean Freeman late in the first quarter before Newberry nearly found the end zone after a 34-yard completion by Kobe Johnson to Javeon Long.
Penalties and tackles-for-loss became the story for the Panthers throughout the night as a hold and three-straight plays with lost yardage led to a missed field goal despite being at Vanguard’s 4-yard line.
Newberry ended the game with over 10 penalties for nearly 100 yards.
The Panthers also were tackled in the backfield 16 times, gave up six sacks and had four turnovers with a missed field goal, two turnovers on downs and an interception. Running back Kaleb Woods and receiver Hayden Moore, a Minnesota commit, were held to under 50 yards of offense combined.
“The offense is struggling. We’ve got to get better,” Johnson said. “It all starts up front. We’ve got to improve there. We got to figure out from a coaching standpoint how to get these guys more involved and be more consistent.”
Lewis added another touchdown to Freeman, this time a 64-yarder off a busted play, to extend Vanguard’s lead to two touchdowns midway through the second quarter.
Two drives later, aided by a roughing-the-passer call on Newberry, Lewis tossed his third touchdown of the night with a 21-yarder to Bethea in the final minute of the first half.
Newberry’s defense did get multiple stops in the second half, including forcing a fumble inside its own 10-yard line to stop a score, but Vanguard was able to extend its lead with a 41-yard touchdown run by Lewis in the fourth quarter.
Newberry (0-3) opens district play next week at Keystone Heights with the kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
“These next four games are what really determine our season, when we get into district play,” Johnson said. “The little things, we’ve got to take care of and execute a little better, and then see what happens.”
Football scores
Friday, Sept. 5
Buchholz 29, Eastside 19
Gainesville 20, Crystal River 7
Hawthorne 33, Florida High (Tallahassee) 27
Santa Fe (Alachua) 50, Harvest Community (Jacksonville) 0
Oak Hall 52, Seven Rivers Christian (Lecanto) 30
Vanguard (Ocala) 27, Newberry 3
Zarephath Academy (Jacksonville) 44, P.K. Yonge 6
Branford 28, Bell 7
Trenton 21, Aucilla Christian (Monticello) 20
Chiefland 21, Belleview 14
Williston 49, Paxon (Jacksonville) 7
Fort White 41, North Marion (Citra) 40
Columbia (Lake City) 27, Hillsborough (Tampa) 0
Bradford (Starke) 14, South Sumter (Bushnell) 12
Merritt Island Christian 55, Countryside Christian 16
Madison County 49, Suwannee (Live Oak) 14
Taylor County (Perry) 54, Dixie County (Cross City) 18
Trinity Prep 27, Bronson 0
OFF – Keystone Heights, Union County