The # 2 ranked Class A Yellowjackets came to Sayre last Friday evening and surgically cut off the #14 ranked Eagles by the score of 49 to 16. Sayre used the fourth quarter to put their 16 points on the scoreboard. The loss by Sayre put them out of a chance for a third-place finish in District leaving them with all but a certain fourth place finish in the district and a state playoff berth. Their final regular season contest will be at home against the struggling Hinton Comets who have yet to win a game this season and stand last in the district at 0 wins and 6 loses and 0 and 9 overall.
The Eagles forced a turnover on downs only on Fairview’s first possession on offense before allowing the powerful Yellowjackets to score on their last 7 possessions. Fairview received the opening kickoff to start the game and gained 2 first downs before Sayre denied a third when a fourth down pass fell incomplete. The Eagles took over at their own 29 and netted one first down before being forced to punt. The punt attempt backfired creating an eleven-yard loss back to the Sayre 36 where Fairview began their first touchdown drive. The score took six plays and was finished off on a one-yard run by highly promoted Alex Houk who had 196 yards rushing on 20 carries in the game. Austin Hickman kicked the PAT to give Fairview a 7 to 0 lead with 3:51 left in the first quarter. Following the ensuing kickoff the Eagles picked up 2 first downs before giving up the ball at the Yellowjacket 42-yard line. From there Fairview used 8 plays for their next TD with the score on a 37-yard run by Houk. The PAT kick was good, and the score read 14 to 0 with 7:32 left in the first half of play.
Sayre got a good 27-yard return of the ensuing kickoff by Jason Kirkland putting the ball at the Eagle 33. After earning one first down on a 10-yard penalty against Fairview the drive ended when a punt by Aiden Ball of 30 yards turned the ball over to Fairview at the Yellowjacket 18. From the 18, Fairview used 8 plays to traverse the 82 yards to the Sayre end zone. Houk got the TD on a 2-yard plunge. The PAT was good and the score was upped to 21 to 0 with 1:28 left in the first half. The ensuing kickoff sailed into the Eagle end zone and Sayre took possession on their own 20. Two plays netted 12 yards and a first down to the Eagle 32, but the next play was a pass that was intercepted at the Yellowjacket 40.
Fairview strung six plays together to score TD number 4 as time ran out on the clock to end the first half of play. The touchdown was a six-yard pass from QB Alden Nightingale to Haddon Miller. The PAT kick was true to give Fairview a 28 to 0 lead at the half.
Sayre received the second half kickoff but failed to move the ball after 3 plays netted only 6 yards. The punt by Ball was 27 yards to the Fairview 47. The Yellowjackets used 5 plays to reach the Eagle end zone with the final 8 yards a run by Houk ending the 53-yard drive. The PAT kick was good to give a 35 - 0 lead with 6:53 left in the quarter. Kirkland returned the ensuing kickoff 12 yards to the Sayre 27. After earning a single first down the Eagles were forced to punt. Ball booted the best punt of the night on a 48-yard kick that rolled dead at the Yellowjacket 25. Fairview continued to show their strength when only 3 plays were used to cover the 75 yards to the Sayre end zone. The big play was a 71-yard pass play from QB Nightingale to Hickman. After the PAT kick, the score read 42 to 0 with 2:12 left in the third quarter.
The ensuing kickoff was returned 9 yards by Kirkland to the Sayre 27 where the Eagles began their first TD run. The first play was an inspiring run of 58 yards by Dustin McSorley to the Fairview 15. Four plays later Cam Plummer wormed his way into the end zone from 2 yards out. Ball passed complete to Tate Bawden to make the 2-point PAT and Sayre was on the board with 10:22 left in the fourth quarter. After the ensuing kickoff, Fairview executed their final TD on a 16 play 67-yard drive. The TD was a one-yard plunge by Carter Drapella. The PAT kick was good and the score was now 49 to 8 with 1:26 left in the game. Berek Bawden returned the ensuing kickoff 10 yards to the Sayre 31 where the Eagles began their second touchdown drive. After a 12-yard run by McSorley the next play was an exciting pass from Mc-Sorley to Plummer who completed a 52-yard gain to the Yellowjacket 5-yard line. The following play was a 5-yard run into the end zone by McSorley. Carter Brewer ran across the 2-point PAT and the final score was on the board at 49 to 16 with only 0:25 seconds left in the final quarter. After the ensuing kickoff was returned 7 yards out to the Fairview 32, the game ended.
The high-octane Eagle running game was held to 129 yards with 56 yards more through the air. They have averaged 242 yards in the first 8 games. Dustin McSorley gained 127 yards on 17 carries against the high rated Yellowjacket defense. Aiden Ball led in tackles with 14 followed closely by Tate Bawden with 11 and 9 by Brock Helton. Sayre will finish the regular season this Friday evening at home against the winless Hinton Comets. Hinton defeated Sayre last year 34 to 16. It will be Senior Night and a win will put the Eagles in the playoffs so a huge crowd is expected.
EAGLES STATS FAIRVIEW 10 First Downs 24 32/129 Rushing Yards 47/330 2/8/56 Passing Yards 7/13/153 185 Total Yards 483 1 Turnovers 0 4/31 Penalties 10/81 4/132/33 Punts 0 RUSHING
D. McSorley 17/127 C. Plummer 4/13 Z. Curtis 2/7 B. Helton 1/6 A. Ball 3/(-13) A. Chavez 1/(-8) C. Brewer 4/(-3) PASS RECEIVING C. Plummer 1/52 T. Bawden 1/4 TACKLES
A. Ball 14 T. Bawden 11 B. Helton 9 D. McSorley 6 S. Mackey 6 A. Chavez 5 B. Mosburg 4 Q. Whitney 4 D. Racadio 4 M. Wynn 3 Others 12
