Abbreviated games end in wins
By Sam Waller
The Albany Junior High Cubs football teams made the most of limited opportunities last Thursday in recording a pair of victories at Olney.
Both seventh grade and eighth grade games were played with a running clock because of the threat of bad weather.
The seventh grade Cubs won 14-6, scoring on two of three possessions. The eighth grade won 8-0 despite running just nine offensive plays.
Both teams will be back in action Thursday (today) when they host Meridian at Robert Nail Memorial Stadium. The seventh grade will start at 4:30 p.m. with the eighth grade to follow.
Eighth Grade
Calhan Fairchild scored the game’s only touchdown on a 64-yard run.
Albany (5-0) moved 99 yards for the score after taking possession at its own one-yard line. Shawn Keen got things started with a 35-yard run.
Fairchild added the two-point conversion on a pass from Brody Oliver.
“I was very proud of how they handled the game,” coach David Fairchild said. “We had a good defensive effort.”
The coach credited the Albany defense with playing “disciplined football” against Olney’s triple-option scheme.
“The offense that they ran demanded a lot of discipline on our part, and I think we did a great job,” he said. “James Knight, Gatlin Wills, Tristan Howe, and Jackson Shack played well up front along with Keen and Huffman Heatly. Cade Fairchild, Woods Peterson, Mason McCloy, and Breylon Billington had several tackles on the edges.”
Meanwhile, the offense performed well in its short time on the field.
“Oliver had a good night running the offense,” the coach said. “Billington, Calhan Fairchild and Keen had some nice runs.”
Seventh Grade
Jack Nail scored touchdowns rushing and receiving as the seventh grade Cubs (3-1) bounced back from their first loss.
“Offensively, we moved the ball very well,” coach Ryder Peacock said. “We only had the ball three possessions and were going in to score on our final possession before time ran out.”
Nail opened the scoring with a 25-yard run to cap the first possession.
On Albany’s second drive, Nail scored on a 20-yard pass from Wesley Gleitz. Colter Edgar ran for the conversion.
“Overall, I was very happy with our performance,” Peacock said. “We have been working on some new blocking schemes, and we executed those well.”
Peacock said the defense showed improvement in its tackling.
“I saw some guys come up and make plays that I have been waiting for,” he said. “I think we are making improvements on that side of the ball.”
