Newton football players, coaches and fans can still taste the bitterness that last season ended with.

At one point, the Cardinals were riding high at 4-0 and ranked eighth in the state. It appeared their three-year playoff drought would surely end. But injuries and a backloaded schedule led to a 5-4 finish, with Newton’s postseason chances ending when a 47-yard field goal fell just short at the end of regulation in the season finale at Carlisle.

It was a far less-than-ideal way to end the prep football career of a talented group of seniors, led by all-district and record-setting quarterback Brian Rose.