WINNSBORO – Fairfield Central moved to 6-1 (1-0, 2A Region 3) with a big 22-6 win over rival Chester on Friday. The Griffins upended the Cyclones for the first time in three years behind a big performance from star senior running back TyDarion Grier and the defense.
“It was a great game, man. First off, hats off to (head coach Victor Floyd) and his team. That is a good football team. They fly around, and they hit on defense. Anytime you get a chance to beat that crowd, it’ a big win. They’ve beaten us three years in a row. We were just able to come away with a couple of plays that gave us a chance to win the game,” said Fairfield head coach Demetrius Davis.
Fairfield would fall behind early after a big drive put Chester up 6-0 late in the first quarter. Freshman Zay Feaster would cash in on a four-yard touchdown run with 2:10 remaining in the first quarter.
A long run from Feaster would set up Chester at midfield, and senior quarterback Trooper Floyd, who showed off strong rushing abilities throughout the night, would direct the Cyclones down the field with his arms and legs. Zeke Evans hauled in a big catch at the 31-yard line, and the Griffins would be called for pass interference. That would bring Chester all the way to the 16-yard line.
But the Cyclones’ two-point conversion attempt would fail, and Fairfield would score on the next sequence after a seven-yard touchdown from Grier. Junior quarterback Kaden Diggs established a strong run-pass option attack for Fairfield throughout the drive, connecting with junior wide receiver Jayden Boyd on multiple occasions.
A fumbled snap by Diggs would bring up 2nd down at the 32-yard line, resulting in a four-yard loss for the Griffins with about 11 minutes remaining in the second quarter. But a short 5-yard gain on a swing pass to Boyd and a physical, speedy, exciting burst up the middle from Grier, which has been a brand for the senior this season, would bail out Fairfield, bringing them to first down at the 16-yard line.
The Griffins couldn’t connect on the two-point conversion, leaving the score tied with 8:14 to go in the second quarter. But after forcing two Chester punts and driving deep into Cyclones’ territory on the final drive of the half, Fairfield would go into the locker room with a 9-6 lead. Senior Erik Martinez nailed a field goal with about 20 yards with seven seconds remaining in the quarter.
Chester would come up empty to open the second half, but their defense would make a major stop late in the third quarter to stymie the Griffins in what was an impressive goal-line stand. Sophomore defensive lineman Luke Reed, sophomore linebacker Caleb Feaster, junior defensive back T’Mari Caldwell, and junior linebacker Darriyarn Baxley were among standout players during the exciting sequence for the Cyclones.
And they would capitalize off that momentum, as Floyd would hit Caleb Feaster, who also plays wide receiver for Chester, on a mid-range pass to the middle of the field with 28 seconds to go in the third quarter. Feaster, using his athleticism to create yards after the catch, would advance all the way from the four-yard line to the 44-yard line.
A long vertical pass from Floyd to the right would fall incomplete on fourth down from the Griffins’ 32-yard line, but a roughing the passer penalty was called on senior defensive back Antario James. The Cyclones would bring it all the way to the Fairfield 10-yard line, but defensive heroics would save the day once again for the Griffins. Junior defensive back Jalen Squirewell would intercept Floyd on a play-action pass intended for the end zone with 8:51 remaining in the fourth quarter.
But the possession arrow would return to Chester once again, but a pass intended for Evans would fall short at Fairfield’s 29-yard line with 5:44 to go.
Then, Grier would once again display his insane capabilities, making his pitch to college coaches across the country that he is indeed worthy of a Division 1 scholarship. He took off for a 64-yard touchdown and put the game out of reach for the Cyclones with 4:29.
“During that run, which sealed the game, he was in the hole. (Grier) stepped out. You thought he was tackled, he broke a tackle, and next thing you know, he cut across the field. He (started) in the box. But it was just a great play from TyDarion Grier, who is just a (special) player,” Davis said.
The hotly-contested rivalry game between local schools featuring talented players from both teams would come down to the wire on a crisp October sky under Friday Night Lights at E.K. McLendon Stadium.
Chester falls to 2-5 (1-1, Region 3). Next up, the Cyclones will host Columbia at 7:30 on Oct. 18. Fairfield will play against Eau Claire in Winnsboro at 7:00 p.m.
