Griffin quarterback DeAndre Belton (3) slips a tackle and scrambles for yards against Ridge View.
LUGOFF – The Fairfield Central Griffins got their final tune-up for the 2013 season Friday night against Ridge View in the Lugoff-Elgin Jamboree. While the Griffins got away with a 7-3 win over the Class 4A Blazers, head coach Demetrius Davis said his team still has plenty of work to do before this Friday’s opener at Westwood.
“I guess you could say it was a victory,” Davis said. “Ridge View had a lot of guys out. We had some guys out. We played a little sloppy at times, but we got some good film to look at and study, so that’s good.”
Davis said his special teams played well, returning a punt for a touchdown against the Blazers. Although the run was ultimately called back, negated by a block in the back penalty, Davis was encouraged. The Griffin defense also showed life, Davis said, but still needs some fine-tuning.
“We didn’t do a good job of getting people on the ground on a few plays,” Davis said, “but we had some spurts of good things.”
The up-tempo trademark offense of Fairfield Central was held to only seven points in the two quarters of play, but Davis said his crew is “coming along.” The Griffins didn’t want to show too much, particularly from their quarterback, DeAndre Belton, Davis said.
“He made some good throws,” Davis said, “but we’re saving him for when it counts.”
And it starts to count this Friday, as the Griffins travel to Westwood for the season opener.
The Redhawks scratched out just one win in their inaugural season in 2012, but this year they return nearly their entire roster. They are more experienced and brimming with a renewed confidence after some very good preseason outings, including Friday night’s 7-6 win over Lugoff-Elgin in the Jamboree.
“I’m a little nervous,” Davis said. “They’re a good football team. They’ve got a reason to be excited. But if we take care of the football and play hard like we always play, we’ll be fine. It’s going to be a good football game.”
