A strong senior class led the Newton football team to turn its season around and make the playoffs this fall, and those seniors were recently rewarded as the Class 3A All-District teams were released.
 

Six Cardinal seniors and one junior were named first-team all-district, while three other Newton players received honorable mention. The senior first-teamers were Derrick Hurt (DL), Collin Reynolds (WR), Andrew Clements (utility), Dakota Hills (DE), Jesse Bates (DB) and Ryan Jolivette (LB). Junior Will Brock (OL) also made the first team, while senior Michael Miller (OL), juniors Levi Michener (OLB) and Ray Schroeder (DL) and sophomore Tyler Wood (QB) received honorable mention.
 

Hurt (6-foot-1, 265 pounds) was a repeat selection as a defensive lineman. He's caused opposing offenses all sorts of problems for the last three years as a starter, and especially so this fall. He finished fourth for Newton in total tackles with 48, including 31 solo. His 11 solo tackles for loss (TFL) were just one shy of the overall district lead and he assisted on four more TFLs. He was a three-year starter on the offensive line as well.