FAIRVIEW, Ala. — Often a game has a star that really sticks out and for Fairview tonight it was nearly the entire team. Multiple players had career nights as the Aggies improved to 7-1 on the season, wasting no time putting away Brewer 55-14.
Fairview had everything going for them before the opening kick was even made. Sporting their new yellow jerseys, the stadium went dark as purple strobe lights began to go off as Fairview came out with music filling the stadium. The energy bled into the opening drive as Fairview went right to work. Sophomore running back Eli Frost ran a couple times for a first down before ripping off a 56-yard touchdown for a 7-0 lead.
Fast forward just a few plays and senior Parker Martin caught a jump ball for an interception giving the ball right back to the Aggies. Three plays later Martin would take it 39 yards to the house for a quick 14-0 lead after another Elijah Guyton PAT.
Another three-and-out later and a booming punt, Frost did his best Derrick Henry impersonation. He stiff armed not one, not two, but three Brewer defenders before turning on the jets for a 71-yard touchdown run. The only thing lacking was a Heisman pose as Fairview took the 21-0 lead.
Martin continued a senior campaign towards a third straight all-state defensive back recognition after grabbing his second interception of the night. Then with tight coverage Martin put a ball just in front of fellow senior Dalton Payne who reeled in a one-handed catch. Payne, who is known as a bruising old-school kind of player, would then show off the wheels as he went 85 yards for a touchdown putting Fairview up 28-0. Payne’s night would end there with two touchdowns in as many catches for 155 yards. Martin would his night early, but not before tallying 224 total yards, three total touchdowns, and two interceptions.
Fairview continued its season long theme of excellent defensive play forcing their fifth straight three-and-out of the night. But not wanting to be outdone on the night Frost would take the second play of the starters last drive 63 yards for his third touchdown of the night, again utilizing what has become a dangerous stiff arm. For those not keeping the stats that’s six carries for 205 yards and three touchdowns for a jaw dropping average of 34 yards per carry.
The second group and JV would take over for the rest of way, but not without a noteworthy mention of Elijah Guyton. Guyton would reel in a 10-yard touchdown catch from backup Quarterback Caiden Hall, but that’s not the story here. Guyton would follow that up, along with a perfect 7/7 PAT night, with not one, but two field goals in the game and give the Aggies a 55-14 finish.
Guyton is the secret weapon no one knows about. Kicking touchback after touchback all season, pinning opposing offenses 80 yards from paydirt, he has been a key piece to winning the field position battle. On top of that he’s been near perfect on the season on PATs. What many don’t realize is he was a key player in the Boaz win, because it was his three PATS that was the difference in that win.
After knocking in his first and second field goals of the season from 30 and 33 yards out, Guyton was excited to see his hard work begin to pay off.
“It just felt great seeing it go in. It was a big confidence booster, because I hit them in practice all the time,” Guyton said. “I’ve been working hard so to see if pay off was great.”
Frost, who was starting last year as a freshman, had this to say as his continues to gain momentum as the season goes on.
“Last year was such a shock moving into varsity play, but it was so helpful for me,” Frost said. “This year I feel like I’m seeing things so much better, and I can play more confident. But I have to say I couldn’t do anything without my line. They block so well up front and make my job so much easier.”
Payne was excited to be able to contribute with his big night as well.
“It feels great to be able to make plays for my team,” Payne said. “I hope I can just keep contributing and helping us get wins.”
Fairview clinched a second-place finish in 5A region 7 with the win tonight and a Boaz loss to region winner Guntersville. That means next week’s home game against Sardis won’t be the final home game of the year for the Aggies. After traveling to Holly Pond for the regular season finale and a rivalry game, they will come back home to host a playoff game for the second straight season.
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