WINNSBORO – The Fairfield Central Griffins followed an explosive first week performance against Hunter-Kinard-Tyler with a repeat blowout against the Keenan Raiders. The Raiders offense fared a bit bitter than the Trojans, but not well enough to prevent the Griffins from racking up a 49-12 victory to improve to 2-0.
“I think it was pretty much about the same,” Griffins head coach Demetrius Davis said on the performance.” “We gave up some points on defense that was a little discouraging, but offensively I think we played pretty much the same as last week.”
Speedy receiver Montavious Thompson (12) hits the corner and looks for the end-zone. He found the big house twice on two 30-plus yard receiving touchdowns. Photos/DeAnna Robinson
Much like last week, the Griffins defense took the field first and easily forced a Keenan fourth down after two consecutive tackles for losses. The Griffins defense chewed the Keenan offense up early, and in the Raiders four first-quarter possessions, they had four three-and-outs.
Unlike Keenan, the Fairfield offense got off to a quick start. Antonio Jackson bulleted a 36-yard passing touchdown to the speedy sophomore Montavious Thompson on the second play of their first drive. Antonio Aguilera came through to convert his first point-after of the season.
Extra point conversions have been a concern for the Griffins, dating back to the preseason, but even more so after missing out on five last week. Between Aguilera and Montavious Seabrooks, they nailed seven extra point conversions on seven attempts.
“Antonio Aguilera came in and went five-for-five on his PATS,” Davis said. “Monterrious Seabrooks went two-for-two, so we were seven-for-seven on PATS so that was definitely an improvement.”
Theron Byrd sacked Raiders quarterback Myles Adams for an eight-yard loss to force the second Keenan punt on the night. The Griffins took possession at midfield, but a couple of incomplete passes put an end to the drive.
After another Keenan punt, the Griffins again got possession near midfield, and this time the offense capitalized with another short scoring drive. Tony Ruff got the wheels going on the drive with a 12-yard rush to convert on a third-and-one opportunity.
Antonio Jackson found Jamas Goins on the next play for a 21-yard strike that set up a 21-yard touchdown pass from Jackson to senior Quay McBride on the following play. Aguilera nailed the extra point to secure a 14-0 lead.
The second quarter began with a familiar sight: the Raiders hoisting a punt into the air. Though Fairfield took over on their own 43, a personal foul pushed the Griffins back 15 yards to the 28 yard-line, but it would not stop them from marching all the way up the field for another score.
Tony Ruff got the Griffins back some of the yards they lost on the penalty with an 11-yard rush to lead off the drive. Ruff ripped off another 10-yard rush after an incomplete pass, and a couple of plays later, on third and eight, Jamon Jackson ripped off an 11-yard run of his own.
The staunch Griffin defense continued to bully the Keenan offense around and forced another three-and-out, but a terrible Raider punt left Fairfield with possession at the Keenan 20-yard line. Senior receiver Ah’Quil Ross finished the drive in just one play, his first rushing touchdown of the season.
Tykedrist Gibson (7) stays in the face of third-string Keenan quarterback Myles Adams. Gibson had a sack and an interception in the game. Photos/DeAnna Robinson
“I thought the defense played good,” Davis said. “But Keenan was down to their third-team quarterback so they were kind of handcuffed a lot too. It was a good performance, but at the same time, we gotta put in perspective you know. We didn’t have their best guys.”
Rodney McNeil picked up Keenan’s first down on the next drive, but on the play after, Tykedrist Gibson stepped and intercepted the Myles Adams pass. Adams only attempted three passes on the night and two were incomplete.
Fairfield could not turn the interception into points. On the first play of their ensuing drive, Antonio Jackson heaved up a deep bomb that came down in the arms of Raider defensive back Vernon Razor.
The teams traded a couple of more offensive series, but neither could get any momentum going before the first half wrapped up. Montavious Thompson opened the first Griffins’ possession of the second half with a 12-yard run.
Jamon Jackson kept the offensive pace going with a 15-yard scramble to get the Griffins into Raider territory, a place they had grown comfortable in over the night. Antonio Jackson and Montavious hooked up for another touchdown to polish off the drive, this time from 37 yards out.
Keenan’s offense, down 35-0, came back onto the field for the first time in the half and mustered their first solid possession of the night. They marched the ball 64 yards down the field in just over five minutes and Chris Reed put up Keenan’s first points of the night with a rush from a yard out.
The score partially woke the Raiders up. After forcing a Griffin punt, Reed again evaded every black jersey on the field en route to a 75-yard touchdown, by far Keenan’s biggest offensive play of the game.
Keenan’s offensive momentum was quarreled quickly when the Griffins put up two more rushing touchdowns, first a six-yard touchdown by Jamon Jackson and then a four-yard score from Rodriguez Edmonds.
Fairfield travels to Blythewood tonight
in the Sonic’s Friday Night Rivals Game of the Week. Blythewood sits at 1-1 after a week one win against Rock Hill High, but a week two loss to Ridge View.
“Our game plan doesn’t change,” said Davis. “If you look at our schedule, each week it’s Fairfield Central vs Fairfield Central. As long we go out and do the things that we can control, we feel like we have a chance to win. Whether it’s Blythewood, whether it’s Carolina or Clemson, we feel like if we go in and do what we go to do we got a chance.”
Scoring
FCHS- 14-14-7-14-49
KHS- 0-0-6-6-12
First Quarter
FCHS- Montavious Thompson 36 pass from Antonio Jackson (Antonio Aguilera Kick).9:05.
FCHS- Quay McBride 21 pass from A.Jackson (A.Aguilera kick).1:39
Second Quarter
FCHS- Rodriguez Edmonds 9 run (Monterrious Seabrooks kick). 9:19.
FCHS- Ah’Quil Ross 20 run (A.Aguilera kick). 6:53
Third Quarter
FCHS- Montavious Thompson 37 pass from Antonio Jackson (A.Aguilera kick). 9:24.
KHS- Chris Reed 1 run (Louis Anderson kick no good). 4:06
Fourth Quarter
KHS- Chris Reed 75 run (Run failed). 11:47
FCHS- Jamon Jackson 6 run (M.Seabrooks kick). 8:56.
FCHS KHS
First Downs 11 7
Rushes/Yards 25-229 39-227
Passing Yards 137 5
C-A-I-TD 7-16-1-3 1-3-1-0
Fumbles/ Lost 0/0 0/0
Penalties/Yards 6-46 8-60
Rushing: KHS- Rodney MacNeil 7-14, Myles Adams14-31, Chris Reed 6-98, Thomas Smalls 6-74, Eric Troutman 6-12. FCHS- Tony Ruff 5-44, Jamon Jackson 6-70, Rodriguez Edmonds 11-80, Antonio Jackson 1-0,Montavious Thompson 1-15, Ah’Quil Ross 1-20.
Receiving: KHS- Trebor Entzminger 1-5.FCHS- JR Edmonds 1-21, Montavious Thompson 3-77, Rodriguez Edmonds 2-20, Jamas Goins 1-19, Quay McBride 1-2.
Passing: KHS- Myles Adams, 1-3, 5 yards, one interception. FCHS-Antonio Jackson 7-16, 137 yards, three touchdowns, one interception.
