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Bridgeland's Jonte Newman
TUNNEL VISION: Bridgeland's Newman has a one-track mind
For Bridgeland, there aren’t many nearly as capable as Jonte Newman.
After being established in 2018, the Bears are easily one of the most instantly accomplished programs in the state, having reached the playoffs every season for the last five years.
“I just love Bridgeland’s mentality,” Newman said. “It’s a great atmosphere and a great community that’s helped to build me up as an individual. If you want to come play a winning brand of football, come to Bridgeland. That’s been my take on it.”
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
From the left tackle spot, Newman has been a pillar in an offensive line that’s upheld the team’s rapidly growing reputation.
He earned a unanimous first-team, all-district nod in 2023. It’s only natural that four-star offensive linemen would have a place to call home ahead of his senior year.
Luckily for Newman, he won’t have to travel far after committing to Texas A&Min April.
He was more than straightforward as to what his motivation was.
“Mike Elko (A&M’s newest Head Coach),” he said. “I believe in everything he says.I think he’s going to do some good with the program, since he turned Duke – a traditional basketball school – into a respectable football team. Because of that, I knew A&M would be a good fit for me.”
His 6-foot-4, 275-pound frame, paired with surprisingly quick feet make him more than a critical asset for coach Lonnie Madison’s front-line, as they look to extend their playoff-streak to six this upcoming Fall.
But his value extends further than just physicality.
“I think my greatest attribute is how I’ve grown into a leader,” said Newman. “I’ve also gotten pretty good at pass-press which fits right into our offensive scheme, because Bridgeland likes to pass a lot. Plus, being a left tackle means I’m covering the QB’s blindside,so taking that responsibility means I’ve got to be a dog on the O-Line.”
Just as many in his position do, Newman maintains an unwavering focus for his future.
“The goal is to make it pro, plain and simple,” he said. “I don’t really have a backup plan in mind, so all my attention is aimed at seeing that journey through.”
2024-25 Bridgeland FootballJamey Wright (VYPE)
Before he embarks on his dream to the top, however, the future Aggie and his high school team has some unfinished business.
Bridgeland endured an early exit from the postseason a year ago, in a 50-49 overtime thriller that was decided by Klein Cain, after going undefeated in District 16-6A.
With Newman shoring up a formidable O-Line, however, he and the Bears should expect a different outcome in the coming months.
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The Bridgeland Bears off to a great start
Bridgeland; Madison off to an impressive start
“What I told our football family at the first parents meeting of the year was this… ‘We are going to know a lot about ourselves after our first three non-district games’,” he recalls. “Well, we have learned that our kids know how to overcome adversity.”
Going 2-0, the Bears have ascended to the VYPE’s No. 3 ranking entering Week 3 against No. 5 Shadow Creek.
Bridgeland first knocked off Cy-Fair, 31-30, in a last-second win, and followed that with an overtime, 41-35, win over highly-ranked Katy Tompkins.
“I don’t feel like we have played our best game yet,” he said. “We had four turnovers in our own territory against Cy-Fair, and we were challenged by our special teams against Tompkins. We aren’t doing ourselves any favors in the field-position game, but we are cleaning that up.”
Madison, however, sings the praises of the Bridgeland community.
“This is a sports-rabid community with great kids,” he said. “These families invest a lot of time in their athletes across the board, and the kids work really hard. I love where we are headed.”
He also brags on the talent inside the Bear locker room.
“On offense, we rotate a sophomore (Tyler Begeal) and junior (Jett Lewis) at quarterback,” he said. “They are both playing at a high level and are handling the situation well. We have some dynamic running backs (Fredrick Moore, Noah Allen Cuellar and Kendall Burns), who run behind a phenomenal offensive line led by Jonte Newman, Ryan Fodje and Ben Mulholland.
“Our receivers are explosive,” he said. “Oscar Nnanna is now a full-time receiver who had the game-winner against Tompkins. Mason Simmons had a game-winner against Cy-Fair. They are tremendous players who make a ton of plays.”
The defense has had to make some tough stops in pivotal positions as well.
Omar Khan (Washington-commit) and Davion Baptiste anchor the front seven, freeing up linebackers Cole Fattig and Karson Krause. Phillip Meyers and Josh Matthews patrol the secondary.
“Those guys in the back-end are some of the best I’ve ever coached,” he said.
With two big wins on the record, the Bears travel to Alvin ISD’s Freedom Field to face Shadow Creek.
“Our first two games were against run-oriented, tight-end type of offenses,” he said. “Shadow Creek is a spread offense with tremendous speed and length. It’s a different style for our defense to prepare for. That will make us better as we enter district play.
“I tell the guys all the time, ‘I don’t worry about where we are on September 5th, but where we are on October 5th, November 5th and even December 5th’.”
But he’s not complaining having beaten two state football brands in the first two weeks.
“I like this better than the alternative,” he laughed.