CULLMAN – The Fairview Aggies played host to the Etowah Blue Devils Friday night at Oliver Woodard Stadium, Fairview’s home field for the 2014 season, but the Blue Devils had no intention of being gracious guests as they racked up 500+ yards on the ground leading to a 40-20 victory.
Paul Ruiz with 247 and five touchdowns and Stacy Williams with 154 yards with one touchdown led the way for Etowah.
Starting at their own 31, Williams busted off a 22 yard run to open the game. Ruiz followed with a carry if seven yards then busted off a 40 yard run for a touchdown to quickly give Etowah a 6-0 lead, a lead they would never relinquish.
After recovering a Fairview fumble, the Blue Devils struck again with Ruiz, this time from 12 yards out on just four plays.
The next series for Fairview was one of the best on the night. Austin Harris got gained some momentum and shot down the field for a 17 yard gain, pushing the ball to the Aggie 47. Hayden Maples then connected with Sambo Woods for 10 yards putting Fairview in Etowah territory for the first time. From the Blue Devil 43, Maples found Jackson Smith for a big 32 yard gain setting up a tow yard touchdown run by Harris three plays later. Fairview forced a punt on the next Blue Devil possession, ending the first quarter down 13-7.
The Aggies moved the ball well to start the second quarter, pushing the ball all the way to the Etowah six for a first and goal but negative rush play, false start and big 10 yard sack quickly made it fourth and 20. The Aggies failed to convert and turned the ball over on downs. It took the Blue Devils just seconds to convert the turnover into points as Williams blasted the ball out of the backfield and raced 57 yards to the goal line to put Etowah on top 20-7 at half.
The Blue Devils came out of the locker room led by Ruiz and they were on fire. Ruiz scored three times in the third quarter on runs 35, 25 and 45 to cap the Etowah scoring and giving them a 40-7 lead heading to the fourth.
Fairview continued to play hard and scored twice in the fourth on an 18 yard touchdown pass from Ragan Ashley to Baily Strong and a series of good, hard runs by Logan Books that was capped off with a three yard rushing touchdown. However, it was not enough as Fairview fell to Etowah in region play, 40-20.
