Texas high school football is more than just a game — it’s a way of life. Dave Campbell's Texas Football is spotlighting a different program from across the Lone Star State, diving into their history, traditions, and legends. From powerhouse programs to hidden gems, Texas High School Football Spotlight is your deep dive into what makes each team unique. Whether it’s unforgettable seasons, iconic players, or fierce rivalries, this series celebrates the schools, communities, and stories that define Texas high school football.

Today's Spotlight: Newton Eagles

The Rundown

Every football team calls itself a family. But there are few programs with generational ties like Newton. Hall of Fame coach Curtis Barbay led the program for 36 years. His grandson, Brock, won District Offensive MVP in 2016. Legendary coach W.T. Johnston won back-to-back state championships before passing away due to lung disease. His son, Newton alum Drew Johnston, took over the headset and guided the Eagles back to AT&T Stadium in 2025. These bonds, more so than Xs and Os, are why Newton is one of the winningest programs in Texas history.

By the Numbers

Class – 3A
Enrollment – 278 
Location – Newton County, 50 miles northeast of Beaumont

Trophy Case

State Championships – 5 (1974, 1998, 2005, 2017, 2018)
State Championship Appearances – 8 (1974, 1998, 2004, 2005, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2025)
District Championships – 42 (most recent: 2025)
Playoff Appearances – 51 (most recent: 2025)

Glory Days

The 2018 Newton Eagles were the best team - and the most poignant story - in school history. 

The legendary W.T. Johnston had battled lung disease for much of his storied tenure as Newton’s head coach. After a double-lung transplant in April 2015, he contracted the ultra-rare Graft-verus-host disease.  By March of 2018, he was told he had eight months to live. But Johnston survived until May of 2019, long enough to lead his Eagles to their second-straight Class 3A Division II State Championship. 

Led by running back Darwin Barlow’s 2,147 rushing yards and 39 touchdowns, Newton scored a program record 816 points. But the Eagles’ defense came up with the biggest play of the state championship game when Dominique Seastrunk made a goal-line interception with 41 seconds left in the game to secure a 21-16 win over Canadian.

“If I’ve done right, a part of me is going to live on in them,” Johnston said in the postgame celebration.

The GOAT

Newton has been a running back factory for decades. Anthony Byerly started the tradition by rushing for 6,598 yards from 1978-81. Byerly exploded as a senior with 3,074 yards in a season. That included a 384-yard performance against Crockett, a game where both offenses combined for over 1,000 yards. Byerly went on to a four-year career at the University of Texas.

The Architect

When Curtis Barbay moved to Newton, Texas, in 1968, he told his family he would be there for one year. Instead, he spent 36 years as Newton’s head coach, compiling a 317-96-9 record and winning two state championships (1998, 2005). Barbay served as the program’s head coach until September 2010, when he suffered a heart attack after a game against Buna and passed away the following day. Barbay, the tenth-winningest coach in state history, was inducted into the TXHSFB Hall of Fame in 2025.

Battle Lines

Newton (3A DII) and West Orange-Stark (4A DII) aren’t in the same classification, but these two Southeast Texas powerhouses clash in a non-district battle every year. The Eagles have 85 consecutive district wins, a streak that began in 2011. Often, West Orange-Stark is their toughest regular-season test. Three of the last four contests have been decided by one score. In last year’s season opener, West Orange-Stark overcame a 24-6 deficit to prevail 32-24.

Home Turf

The Eagles play home games on Curtis Barbay Field at Singletary Stadium, just 22 miles away from the Louisiana border. The field is named after the aforementioned architect head coach, while the stadium is named after longtime school district employee John V. Singletary. With a capacity just under 3,000, it’s an intimate – and rowdy – place to watch a game. The stadium is also a shrine to Newton’s storied history, with plaques for both Barbay and W.T. Johnston.

The Year That Was

Head coach Drew Johnston led Newton to its first state championship game since his father, W.T., was on the sideline. After a season-opening loss to West Orange-Stark, the Eagles reeled off 14-straight wins behind star running back Kendray Porter Jr.’s 2,400 rushing yards and 40 total touchdowns. The Eagles lost the closest state championship game of 2025, falling 25-24 to Wall.

Looking Ahead

Newton returns three All-State honorees, which will put them squarely in the state championship hunt again in 2026. Porter, a Houston commit, is the headliner, while LB Ivan Gatson (120 tackles, nine sacks) leads the defense. Edge rusher Justin Bray (15 TFL, 12 sacks) and Kaleb Burnham (80 tackles, 11 sacks) should make life miserable for opposing quarterbacks.

Xs and Os

Offense – Multiple Wing
Defense – 7 Diamond

On the Rise

QB Izayah Foster started 14 games as a true freshman and led the Eagles to a state title game with 1,700 passing yards and 19 touchdowns. After proving he had the mentality to compete at AT&T Stadium, he could develop into a star as he continues to mature physically.

In Their Own Words

“We still have tough kids in our program who let us coach them and do things right. Kids grow up wanting to play in the tradition they have seen their fathers, brothers, and uncles play in.” - Drew Johnston