McIntosh had a chance Saturday to pull out a tie in regulation and send its game against Newton into overtime.

But host Newton picked off a pass by McIntosh quarterback Cam Porter late in the fourth quarter to escape with a 22-15 victory.

The Rams led 15-0 at halftime, scoring on a 14-yard run on the opening drive of the game and, following a McIntosh turnover on a fumble, on a 1-yard run in the second quarter.

Newton tacked on a two-point conversion after its second touchdown.

Porter brought McIntosh (1-1) back in the second half, scoring on an 8-yard run in the third quarter.

Porter’s run followed a forced fumble by McIntosh cornerback Daiyaan Epps that his backfield mate, cornerback Bradley Larson, recovered.

Newton delivered a back-breaking play on the first play of the fourth quarter — an 81-yard touchdown run that made it 22-7.

McIntosh answered with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Porter to Larson.

Porter hit Nathan Enzor with a pass in the end zone for the two-point conversion.

McIntosh put itself in position to tie the game on its final drive.

The Chiefs drove downfield inside the Newton 35-yard line, but Porter (10-of-17, 115 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions) was hit as he threw and Newton picked off his pass to essentially end the game.

“We didn’t play with a lot of emotion in the first half,” McIntosh coach Glenn Griffin said. “After halftime, we picked it up. I was very pleased with the kids’ effort after halftime. But it was too little, too late.”

McIntosh limited Newton to 32 yards passing, but it had significant trouble slowing down Newton’s running game, which finished with 259 yards rushing.

Linebacker Andrew Graham (19 total tackles) and defensive end Taylor Peaden (eight total tackles) led McIntosh’s defense.

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