Newport’s Tristan Metcalf slips by a Central tackler during Friday’s game. Metcalf ran for 81 yards and scored two touchdowns in the 56-35 loss for the Cubs. (Photo by Jake Schubert)

A lot of times 35 points and more than 400 yards of total offense is plenty to win a football game. But when you’re playing the No. 2 Central Panthers, moving the ball and putting up points isn’t enough - you have to stop them, too.

Newport dropped to 0-2 in Val-Co League play and 5-2 overall after a 56-35 home loss to Central, which improved to 2-0 in league and 7-1 overall.

“To win games like that, you have to play mistake free, and we didn’t,” Newport Coach Kurt Hargett said.

The Cubs scored on their opening play of the game. Sophomore quarterback Oshay Dunmore dropped back to pass, saw a seam in the defense, and took off for a 77-yard touchdown run.

Newport forced a punt on Central’s first possession, but the Cubs gave the ball back with a fumble on the second play of their possession.

The Panthers took the ball at Newport’s 15-yard line, and two plays later, Aiden Braa-Stanley ran for a touchdown from four yards out. Central’s Boise State-bound quarterback, Grant Hedrick, ran in the two-point conversion for an 8-7 lead with 5:13 to play in the opening quarter.

The Cubs went three-and-out on their next possession and punted. Three plays later, Central was in the end zone again with a 52-yard run from Hedrick. Roman Daberkow’s extra point made the score 15-7.

Central recovered an onside kick, and three plays later, put another score on the board with Braa-Stanley rushing in from four yards out for the second time in the game. Hedrick ran the two-point conversion for a 23-7 Central lead with 1:33 remaining in the first.

Newport put together a solid drive on their next possession. Tristan Metcalf ran for 23 yards in two plays, followed by two Dunmore runs that totaled six yards. Dunmore connected with Zak Bremner for a 10-yard gain, and then hit Chris Barth for a 20-yarder to Central’s 9-yard line. But the turnover bug bit again, and Newport fumbled.

The Panthers put together a seven-play, 87-yard scoring drive, capped with a 51-yard run by Hedrick. The two-point conversion failed and Central led 29-7 with 7:53 remaining in the second.

Newport followed with a strong drive, picking up three first downs, but the drive stalled in the red zone when they were flagged for an illegal block. The Cubs did regain some of the penalty yards on a pass from Casee Case to Kenny Mertens, but an incomplete pass left them with fourth-and-eight at the Central 16. Panthers’ defensive lineman Seth Biester broke free and sacked Case for a nine-yard loss, and Central got the ball back.

Hedrick connected with Jesse Pratt for a 58-yard gain on the Panthers’ first play, and three plays later Braa-Stanley scored from eight yards out. Daberkow’s kick made it 36-7.

Newport answered with a quick strike of their own.

Case