Newton (3-4, 3-0) had two interceptions, including a 69-yard return by Nick White in the second quarter, while sacking Murrifield five times. Kingsley Ejike had three sacks while the other two were by Treyvon Richardson.

"That was an area, our front seven, we felt we could definitely be dominant and it happened. Those were their (Ejike and Richardson) goals for the game. They knew they had to come and play," Newton head coach Cortez Allen said. "They knew they had to take their game to a different level and they did."

The front seven also kept Rockdale (2-6, 2-2) from getting a running game going. Of the Bulldogs' 19 running plays, eight were for negative yards. Rockdale finished the night with minus 20 yards on the ground. After the first quarter where Rockdale's passing game gained 143 yards, the rest of the game only netted 96 yards. The Bulldogs' Mike Rozier caught three passes for 106 yards in the first quarter as he led the team in receiving with four catches for 131 yards.