Friend leads Newman to Homecoming win over M.L. King Charter

NEW ORLEANS – Newman junior quarterback Eli Friend made sure the Greenies didn’t overlook M.L King Charter in their homecoming game a week before it plays in a showdown for the District 10-2A title.

Friend completed 14 of 18 passes for 207 yards and four touchdowns to lead Newman to a 47-12 victory against King Charter at Michael Lupin Field on Friday.

Newman (8-0, 2-0), ranked third in Class 2A, plays at second-ranked St. Charles Catholic next week for the District 10-2A championship. St. Charles Catholic (9-0, 2-0) defeated Country Day on Friday.

Friend got the Newman offensive party started early, and the Greenies kept it going the entire first half.

Newman drove 84 yards on 15 plays for a touchdown on its first possession of the game to take a 7-0 lead. Friend moved right and threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to receiver Darvon Thomas. The drive was kept alive by a 4-yard run by Seth Perrilliat on fourth-and-3 at the King 15-yard line.

Friend threw a 37-yard touchdown pass to receiver George Loop to make the score 14-0 with 52 seconds left in the first quarter.

“It was a real good start,” Newman coach Nelson Stewart said.

Friend threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Will Loerzel to make the score 21-0 with 9:50 left in the second quarter.

Newman led 23-0 after King snapped the ball out of the end zone on a punt from its 11-yard line. The Greenies led 30-0 after Jake Randle jogged into the end zone for an 8-yard touchdown on a toss-sweep play.

Friend finished the first-half scoring with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Jones to make the score 37-0 with 2:20 remaining.

Friend completed 11 of 14 passes for 172 yards and four touchdowns in the first half.

“He threw the vertical passes well with touch and extended plays,” Stewart said. “He set the tone.”

Newman capitalized on six turnovers by King Charter.