Albany to face Eldorado in first round
The Albany Lions completed a clean sweep of the District 6-2A Division II schedule and tuned up for the playoffs Friday, Nov. 4 with a 66-0 victory over Abilene TLCA at McMurry University’s Wilford Moore Stadium.
The Lions (100) look to take the first step in the postseason at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9 (tonight) when they take on the Eldorado Eagles in a Class 2ADivision II bi-district playoff at Wolf Stadium in Colorado City.
“We feel good going into the playoffs,” Lions head coach Denney Faith said. “We’re relatively healthy, and the kids are excited about getting the playoffs started.”
AgainstTLCA,Albanyscored touchdowns on all 10 possessions while holding the Eagles to negative net yardage.
“Ourwholeplangoinginwas tokeepanedge,”Faithsaid.“We didn’t want it to get sloppy; we didn’t want to get in a situation where we weren’t playing hard just because of the game situation. Our kids played hard the whole game and executed well.”
Adam Hill scored all four times he touched the ball, and Chip Chambers passed for a season-high four touchdowns, two to Cason Fairchild. Calhan Fairchild, Jaxson Hoel, Tyler Chapman, and Branson Beal added TDs as Albany scored at least 40 points for the fifth consecutive game and seventh time during the regular season.
The Lions finished with 418 total yards despite never starting a possession on their own side of the 50-yard line. Albany averaged nearly 15.5 yards per playandmorethan17yardsper rush. Four backs ran for more than 50 yards.
Albany enters the postseason averaging 431.5 total yards and 44.7 points pergamebehindalinethat returned center Cole Read, guardLanxtonViertel,and tackle Zane Waggoner.
“Landon (Balliew) got some experience last year, so having four of five back is easier than having to rebuild the whole line,” Read said. “The rushing yards are definitely there and that makes us more of a dual threat.”
Hill had just three rushing attempts for 98 yards, scoring on runs of 40, 22, and 36 yards. He also caught a 7-yard pass for a TD.
Chambers finished 7 of 11 passing for 145 yards. Cason Fairchild had three receptions for 71 yards.
Meanwhile, the Lions defense turned in the latest in a long string of strong outings, holding TLCA to minus-9 total yards and two first downs. The Eagles never reached theirown40-yardlineafter starting every one of their possessions inside their 30.
Senior defensive end Houston Heatly said the run defense has been on this season – no opponent has scored more than two offensive touchdowns – providing momentum for the playoffs.
“It makes us feel really confident,” he said. “When the defense goes to work, it gives the offense a little bitofcomfortknowingthey don’t have to score as much if we get in that situation.”
Hoel led the defense with eight total tackles with Waggoner in on seven stops and Chapman in on five. The Lions had 17 players record a defensive statistic asAlbany finished with six tackles for loss, two sacks, six hurries, and three pass breakups.
Luke Marshall’s interception was the Lions’ only takeaway, butAlbany again got an opponent off the field quickly with seven three-and-out series among 11 possessions.
Chambers and Cason Fairchild got the Lions off toaquickstartwithscoring passes of 15 and 35 yards. All three of Fairchild’s receptions came in Albany’s first four plays. The second scorecameontheplayafter Marshall’s interception.
Hill’s first rushing touchdown was followed by his receiving score as the Lions took a 26-0 lead lateinthefirstquarter.The drive for the TD reception was Albany’s longest in terms of plays at six.
Calhan Fairchild took a pass 22 yards to score early in the second quarter. Hoel added the next TD on a 1-yard plunge after Beal turned a short pass into a 35-yard gain.
WithAlbanyahead40-0 with 7:30 remaining in the second quarter, a running clock was instituted for the remainder of the game.Hill’ssecondrushing TD gave the Lions a 46-0 halftime lead.
Albany had just three possessions in the second half, which took barely a half hour to play. Hill took a direct snap 36 yards to score on the second play of the half. Chapman capped a five-play drive with his 17-yard touchdown run and Beal added the final TD with a dazzling 45yard run.
Facing Eldorado
This is the second season in a row the Lions and Eagles (5-4) have matched up in the first round. Albany won last year’s meeting 49-13.
Eldorado is the fourth seed out of District 5-2A DII, but defeated the district’s secondseed,Sterling City, 24-0 on Oct. 20.
“They’reanoptionteam, a lot like they were last year,” Faith said. “They’re huge, really big up front.”
Last year, Albany entered the playoffs having given up 24 points in district, 18 of which came in the district opener. This year, the Lions allowed just seven points on a fumble return as the defense hasn’tallowedapointsince playing Comanche.
The Lions outscored district opponents 276-7, but Faith is counting on a tough nondistrict schedule paying off.
“We really loaded up our predistrict and tried to play some quality teams to get us ready for this point in the season,” he said. “Hopefully, we can look back on those as learning lessons as we go through the playoffs.”
Ticket Information Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students. Tickets are available online at ccity.hometownticketing. com. Major credit cards will be accepted at the gate.
All passes will be honored. Albany will be the home team.
PLAYOFF PAIRINGS CLASS 2A DIV. II • REGION II BI-DISTRICT Wink (9-1) vs. Cross Plains (4-6), 3:00 p.m. Friday, San Angelo Stadium, San Angelo Muenster (6-4) vs. Haskell (4-5), 7:00 p.m. Thursday, Newton Field, Graham Albany (10-0) vs. Eldorado (5-4), 7:00 p.m. Thursday, Wolf Stadium, Colorado City Seymour (8-2) vs. Celeste (7-3), 7:00 p.m. Friday, Jackrabbit Stadium, Bowie Windthorst (8-2) vs. Lindsay (5-5), 7:00 p.m. Thursday, Jackrabbit Stadium, Bowie Roscoe(8-2)vs.McCamey(5-5),7:00 p.m. Thursday, Walton Field, Kermit Collinsville (9-1) vs. Archer City (54), 7:00 p.m. Thursday, Bull Memorial Stadium, Bridgeport Sterling City (6-3) vs. Miles (7-3), 7:00 p.m. Thursday, San Angelo Stadium, San Angelo
