Griffins shut out Capitals

WINNSBORO – Last week the Fairfield Central Griffins put the kibosh on their losing streak, and this week they notched their first taste of victory in region play with a homecoming win over the Columbia High Capitals. The Caps, 2-4, kept things close with the Griffins, 4-3, most of the game, but Fairfield pulled away late for a 35-0 victory.

Black jerseys swarm from every direction and neutralize the Capital play. | Photos/DeAnna Robinson

Jacob McManus got the start, the first of his career, behind center for Fairfield and his arm led the Griffins to their first score. An early Columbia turnover on downs left the Griffins with amazing field position to start their second drive of the game, but they quickly found themselves in a fourth down situation.

That was when McManus unfurled a beautiful 15-yard pass to JR Edmonds, who repaid the good throw with an impressive catch. The score would be the sole touchdown of the first half and then defenses took over.

Theron Byrd squashed a Capitals drive near the end of the first quarter with a tackle for loss followed by a sack on consecutive plays. The Caps attempted to punt the ball out of their own end-zone in the second quarter, but their punter stepped out of the back of end-zone for a safety.

The Griffins threatened on the drive following the safety kickoff and got the ball down to the Capitals’ 31, but the drive stalled out on a fourth down attempt. Next, Columbia followed suit with a similar drive, but also stalled inside the opposing 35-yard line.

As the half dwindled down, a McManus passed was picked off, but the Capitals could not capitalize on the momentum and the half ended. Bad luck struck Columbia on the third play of the second half, when the Griffins recovered a Caps’ fumble.

JR Edmonds got the drive moving with an 11-yard run, but the Griffins nearly turned the ball over with a fumble of their own. After the fumble, they followed with back to back ten-plus yard runs, and then Dorian Glenn fought into the inside from three yards out.

Antonio Aguilar nailed the extra point and Fairfield went ahead 15-0. On the next Griffin drive it would be more of the same.

Montavious Thompson (12) turns on the jets as his trusty blockers lead the way.

After forcing a Capitals’ punt, the Griffins’ next possession started with an electric 15-yard Rodriguez Edmonds rush, then Montavious Thompson took off for 20 yards on the next play. A couple of plays later, a Columbia roughing the passer call accelerated the Griffins ahead 15 yards.

Thompson gained nine more on the ground before Dorian Glenn scored his second touchdown of the game with a nine-yard score.

The Griffins forced another Caps’ turnover on downs before taking over for a third possession at their own 41. Two plays in, McManus delivered a strike as he was hit to Montavious Thompson, and Thompson made it 58 yards into the end-zone.

Fairfield sealed the deal with a long scoring drive in the fourth quarter that drained nearly five minutes from the clock. Quinjae Pringle capped off the drive from six yards out and that was all she wrote for the Caps.

The Griffins take on a struggling Camden Bulldog team this week. The Bulldogs are 1-5 this year and are 0-3 on the road.

It will be the Griffins Pink Out night.

Scoring

FCHS–  6-2-20-7-35

CHS– 0-0-0-0–0

First Quarter

FCHS – JR Edmonds 15 pass from Jacob McManus (Antonio Aguilera kick no good). 8:30.

Second Quarter

FCHS – Team safety. 9:12.

Third Quarter

FCHS – Dorian Glenn 3 run (A.Aguilera kick). 9:25

FCHS – D.Glenn 9 run (JR Edmonds run no good). 5:28.

FCHS – Montavious Thompson 58 pass from J.McManus (A.Aguilera kick). 2:53.

Fourth Quarter

FCHS – Quinjae Pringle 4 run (A.Aguilera kick). 3:26.

TEAM STATS              FCHS                CHS

First Downs                12                     6

Rushes/Yards             30-153           18-101

Passing Yards             113                  23

C-A-I-TD                       6-21-1-2       4-19-0-0

Fumbles/ Lost            1/0                  3/1

Penalties/Yards          7-67               7-68

INDIVIDUAL STATS

RUSHING:   FCHS – Tony Ruff 9-17, Rodriguez Edmonds 7-28,  JR Edmonds 1-11, Dorian Glenn 4-33, Quinjae Pringle 4-16, Montavious Thompson 4-57,  Theron Byrd 2-10. CHS – Johran Broadnax 2-11, Jalyn Dudley 7-19, D’Andree McGee 1-3, Thomas Green 4-30, Adrian Knight 1-12, Rico Dorsey 1-2, DreQuan Goodwin 8-12, William Reed-Simmons 1-10, Tyquan Sumter 1-2.

RECEIVING:  FCHS- JR Edmonds 2- 43, Montavious Thompson 2-66, Rodriguez Edmonds 1-2, Tony Ruff 1-2. CHS – Jalyn Dudley  2-6, Thomas Green 1-9, Johran Broadnaz 1-8.

PASSING: FCHS – Jacob McManus 6-21, Two touchdowns, one interception. CHS – D’Andre McGee 4-19, 23 yards.

Contact us: (803) 767-5711 | P.O. Box 675, Blythewood, SC 29016 | [email protected]