Lions running back Lakendrick Van Zandt, center, faces off against a pair of Newton defenders in the first quarter Friday in Henderson. Andrew D. Brosig/Tyler Morning Telegraph

HENDERSON -After a well-rounded offensive effort, the Henderson Lions are off to their best start in four years.

Newton – ranked No. 9 in Class 3A – made the trip to Lion Stadium for its third-straight game against a team in a higher classification and was its own worst enemy.

Three different players notched rushing touchdowns and the Lions defense scooped up three first-half fumbles in the first half and pitched a shutout in the second as Henderson moved to 4-0 on the season with a 32-8 win over Newton at Lion Stadium.

The win gave Henderson head coach Phil Castles career win No. 100 in his career. Currently in his third year at Henderson, Castles is 17-10 at the Lions’ helm – 15-3 since the 2014 season.

Henderson’s Trestan Ebner had a hand in every aspect of the game, rushing for a 44-yard score, hauling in a 12-yard touchdown as well as providing a second line of defense in the Henderson secondary.

Lynn Freeney and LaKendrick VanZandt also notched rushing touchdowns of 3 and 1 yards, respectively. In total the Lions rolled up 272 yards on the ground – 202 in the second half.

Quarterback Matthew Childers threw for 26 yards, including the scoring strike to Ebner, and added 67 yards on the ground. Julio Cervantes tacked on a 32-yard field goal to round out the Lions’ offense.

Defensively, Garrett Lybrand recovered three of Newton’s fumbles for the Lions. Cadarius Caldwell scooped up the fourth Newton (1-2) miscue.

In total, the Eagles held the yard advantage 313-298 over the host Lions after taking a 188-93 margin into halftime.

The second half was all Henderson as the Lions scored on three of their four possessions, the final drive ending the contest. Henderson outgained Newton 205-125 in the final 24 minutes.

Newton’s miscues started on the opening drive, with Lybrand jumping on a loose ball. The Eagles defense, led by Louisiana-Lafayette pledge Tanner Holmes, held the Lions to punts on their first two possessions.

After Newton’s second fumble, the Lions took advantage with Childers hitting Ebner for a 12-yard score after getting the ball at the Eagles 14. Freeney added the two-point run for an 8-0 lead.

Holmes picked off a pass but, again, the Eagles fumbled the ball away. After holding Henderson to a punt, Newton got on the board with touted recruit Gabe Foster scoring on a 24-yard run up the middle. Foster led the Eagles offense with 124 all-purpose yards.

Foster broke up a pass in the end zone on third down to force a Henderson field goal, which Cervantes drilling from 32 yards away for an 11-8 Henderson lead at halftime.

Ebner broke a tackle at the line and turned on the jets for a 44-yard score to open the second half. The Lions went to the ground after that, holding Newton to three possessions in the second half, which resulted in a punt, fumble and turnover on downs.

VanZandt capped a 61-yard drive with a 1-yard score and, after the third fumble recovery from Lybrand, Freeney sealed the Lions win with a 3-yard touchdown.

Henderson rounds out its non-district slate with a trip to Daingerfield on Friday. Newton continues its stretch of 4A opponents with a visit to Orangefield.