LEE -- Peter Newton rushed for 175 yards and scored two touchdowns as the senior running back led Lee to a 27-0 win over rival Monument Mountain Friday night.
The Wildcats' win over the Spartans on Friday night means Lee is still alive for a berth in the Berkshire County League playoffs. If Drury loses to Hoosac Valley this afternoon, Lee will advance to next week's wild card game against Wahconah. A Drury win means the Blue Devils will travel to Dalton to play the Warriors.
The Wildcats wasted no time jumping on the undermanned and young Spartan squad, who dressed only 21 players for the traditional end-of-season rivalry.
Newton broke runs of 52 and 59 yards within a span of 1 minute, 30 seconds midway through the first quarter, as the home team jumped out to a 13-0 lead.
A Bill Wamsley 19-yard pass to Jake Kelley in the end zone closed out the quarter and Lee had a 20-0 advantage.
However, the Wildcat offense suddenly broke down. Lee committed 11 penalties for 95 yards and fumbled the ball away three times before scoring again late in the fourth quarter on a John Hardwood 1-yard plunge.
"We got a little complacent once we got ahead 20-0," noted Lee head coach Keith Thomson.
Newton realizes making the same number of mistakes next week -- if there is a next week -- won't cut it against Wahconah.
"We need to practice hard this week and be better prepared," said the senior running
Lee's hot-and-cold offense on Friday was typical of the entire season. The Wildcats seemed to score at will in their first three games, going 2-1, and then lost their next three -- all by shutout. The last three games, including the victory over Monument, Lee outscored its opponents 101-12.
Where the Wildcats have been consistent is defense -- especially in the second half of the season, giving up just 32 points in five games.
"Our defense has been solid all year," said Thomson, "and getting us through the rough patches."
As for Monument, the entire season was rough as the Spartans went winless. Coach Mike Huggins hugged his players after the game, though, and thanked them for staying with the program.
"These kids played hard tonight," Huggins said. "In fact, they played hard all season."
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