UConn recruit making up for lost time

UConn commit Arkeel Newsome has run for 1,184 yards and 19 TDs this year

Last year when Arkeel Newsome was getting ready to lead his Ansonia High team against neighboring Derby he still had memories of a career-high 401-yard rushing effort against the Red Raiders as a sophomore. However, any hopes of putting up more gaudy numbers against Derby ended when he was knocked out of the game in the first quarter with an ankle injury.

The 34 rushing yards in the 2012 showdown against Derby were the fewest for the UConn commit in a game since he became the Chargers' No. 1 back and it was also the only time in the last three seasons that Newsome failed to score more than one touchdown.

Newsome was certainly healthy this time around as he played into the fourth quarter and finished with 315 yards and five touchdowns in a 62-28 victory.

"Last year I got injured on the first series so that was a bit of a motivator and just because it is a big rivalry game," Newsome said after his eighth career 300-yard rushing game. "I feel like I had to come back and redeem myself."

Newsome became the second player in Connecticut high school football history to run for more than 8,000 career yards. He needs 278 yards in Thursday's game against Masuk to break the state record held by former Ansonia High star Alex Thomas. Newsome also extended his state records for touchdowns scored and points scored to 139 and 858.

According to the National High School Football Record book, Newsome's 127 career rushing touchdowns is 11th all-time and one behind two players including current Denver Broncos RB Knowshon Moreno.

Newsome wasn't the only UConn commit to have a huge game last week as tight end Alec Bloom caught 10 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-29 loss to Penns Manor. Bloom has 36 catches for 677 yards and nine touchdowns in six games this season. Also, Justin Noye returned two punts for touchdowns and threw a 75-yard TD pass in Rochester (N.Y.) East's 42-0 win over Franklin.