FAIRVIEW, Ala. – Fairview advanced with a road win over Jacksonville last week and were back home at Dafford Smith Stadium Thursday night to face Scottsboro in the 5A quarterfinals. The Wildcats took advantage of several explosive plays to build a 13-7 lead in the first half, but the Aggies stepped up defensively in the second half to limit Scottsboro’s offense. Unfortunately for the home crowd, the Wildcats continued to play great defense as well, and a 27-yard field goal in the final 90 seconds of regulation lifted Scottsboro to a 16-14 win over Fairview.
Fairview was forced to punt on its opening possession. Scottsboro hit some big plays to keep the chains moving but the Aggie defense stiffened in the red zone, forcing the Wildcats to settle for a field goal and a 3-0 lead early in the first quarter. After a booming Fairview punt flipped the field later in the period, Scottsboro picked up another big gain through the air to move the ball out near midfield. After converting a fourth and 5 to keep the chains moving, the Wildcats capped the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run to stretch the lead to 10-0 with just 13 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
However, the Aggies responded on the ensuing possession, putting together a methodical drive with tough runs from Jake Harper and Kolt Redding along with some quick passes. After a physical, 14-yard run by Harper moved the ball down inside the 10, Redding ran one into the end zone from 6 yards out to get Fairview on the board and trim the lead to 10-7 with eight minutes to play in the second quarter. Scottsboro began driving down the field once again, but Zayden Cruce picked off a pass at the 5-yard line and returned it out to the 45 to cut the scoring opportunity short.
The Aggies drove down into field goal range but Fairview’s 38-yard field goal attempt with 31 seconds on the clock was no good and the score remained 10-7. Scottsboro took advantage of another explosive pass and a Fairview penalty to move into field goal range, and the Wildcats drilled a 35-yarder as the second quarter expired to take a 13-7 lead into the locker room at the break.
The Aggie defense got a quick stop to open up the second half and the offense built on the momentum when they got the ball. Fairview kept the chains moving on the ensuing possession and a 35-yard run by Redding moved Fairview deep into Scottsboro territory. Harper capped the drive with a 6-yard touchdown run to give the Aggies their first lead of the night at 14-13 with seven minutes to play in the third quarter.
It was tough for either offense to find its footing the rest of the way. An interception by Conner Scott set up Fairview’s offense with excellent field position but they were stopped on fourth down a few plays later and the Wildcats took over. Both teams exchanged punts on the next two possessions, but Scottsboro got the ball back with just under 10 minutes on the clock. The Wildcats methodically worked their way down the field, converting several third downs and keeping the clock moving.
Eventually, Scottsboro reached Fairview’s 10-yard line with less than two minutes to play, and the Wildcats nailed a 27-yard field goal to pull ahead 16-14. With no timeouts remaining, it was difficult for the Aggies to control the clock on the ensuing possession. Fairview hit a big pass down the sideline to get close to field goal range, but the final second ticked off the clock before they could get out of bounds and another stellar season for the Aggies came to an end with a 16-14 loss in the 5A quarterfinals.
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