GOOD HOPE, Ala. – The unbeaten Fairview Aggies made the trip to a packed James W. Shabel Stadium in Good Hope for a highly-anticipated matchup with the undefeated Raiders Friday night and like they have all season, the Aggies put up big numbers with an explosive rushing attack to race past Good Hope 48-21 and finish the regular season 9-0. Fairview running back Jake Harper racked up 282 yards and four touchdowns on the ground to lead the way for the Aggies.
Fairview quickly got the running game going to start out the game, as a pair of huge runs by Jake Harper and an 11-yard run by Kolt Redding put them at the 18. A penalty pushed them back to the 23, but Harper scored three plays later from 16 yards out to give the Aggies a 7-0 lead with 9:36 remaining in the first quarter. A pair of offsides penalties, plus a run by Tyler Cone, gave the Raiders a first down. A pair of runs by Mason Drake put them at the 10, but they were later forced to turn the ball over on downs.
Redding connected with Blake Rickard on a 40-yard pass play on third down to keep its series alive, then a pair of big runs by Harper quickly had them at the 19. The Raider defense stiffened and forced a field goal attempt that hit off the left upright to keep the score at 7-0. Good Hope mixed the run and pass on its next series, as Cone’s pass to Parker Johnson went for a first down, as did a run by Mason Drake. Three plays later, Cone connected with Tucker Malin for a 37-yard score to tie the game up at seven with less than nine minutes to go in the first half.
Good Hope’s defense forced the Aggies into a third-and-long situation, but Harper broke free up the middle for a 69-yard score to give Fairview a 14-7 lead. After allowing a first down, the Aggies forced the Raiders to punt, but Good Hope returned the favor on its next series on defense. Carson Jones picked off a Cone pass at the 30, and Fairview mixed the run and the pass on its next series. The drive ended with Redding finding Rickard for a 15-yard score to push their lead to 21-7 at the half.
Fairview forced a Raider punt to start out the second half. Harper’s big night continued, as he broke free for a 35-yard touchdown down the right sideline to make it 28-7. Good Hope looked to answer on its next series. Cone found Malin for 30 yards, as that put them at the 19. On fourth down, Cone found a diving Drake in the end zone for a 12-yard score to cut it to 28-14 with 5:15 left to go in the third quarter. The Aggies struck quickly on the third play of its next series, as Redding threw a short pass to Jace Stevens, and he ended up going 59 yards to the house to give them a 34-14 lead.
Good Hope answered right back in a hurry, as on just the second play of its series, Cone and Rutherford hooked up for a 64-yard touchdown to trim it to 34-21 late in the third quarter. The duo Harper and Redding gave the Raiders problems on their next series, as they each picked up a first down during the drive. It ended with Harper scoring on a 39-yard run to make it 41-21. A pair of big passes by Cone to Rutherford (18 yards) and to Johnson (29 yards) kept its series alive on multiple occasions, but once again, they ended up turning the ball over on downs. The Aggies put the final score of the game, as Redding connected with Cruce from eight yards out to put the final score at 48-21.
Harper finished with 282 yards and four touchdowns on 15 carries for Fairview (9-0). Redding went 10/14 for 164 yards and three scores. Rickard finished with three receptions for 67 yards and a touchdown, while Cruce added 36 receiving yards on five catches and a score. Jones finished with an interception in the win for the Aggies. For the Raiders (9-1), Cone finished 12/24 for 254 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception. Rutherford collected 137 yards on five catches and a score, while Malin added 67 yards on a pair of receptions and a touchdown.
Both teams will now prepare to host first-round playoff games next Friday. Fairview will take on Carver-Birmingham and Good Hope will face off against Hatton.
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