Cubs split games with Anson
By Sam Waller
The Albany Junior High Cubs split their games at Anson last Thursday with the eighth grade winning 20-8, while the seventh grade suffered its first loss 16-8.
Both teams return to action Thursday (today) at Olney. The seventh grade will play at 4:00 p.m., followed by the eighth grade and junior varsity.
Eighth Grade
Calhan Fairchild had touchdowns passing, receiving, and on an interception return to lead the Cubs (4-0).
“I was very pleased with our effort on both sides of the ball,” coach David Fairchild said.
The game was scoreless for several possessions before Calhan Fairchild intercepted a pass. Albany moved down the field behind several good runs from Lane Helle before Fairchild connected with Huffman Heatly for an 18-yard touchdown.
Shawn Keen ran for the conversion.
Keen and Heatly made big plays on the next defensive series, while Mason McCloy, Breylon Billington, and Helle broke up passes.
Brody Oliver completed a 14-yard pass to Fairchild to make it 14-0.
Anson scored to get within a touchdown and was driving late in the game when Fairchild went 65 yards with an interception to seal the game for Albany.
Anson’s last possession ended when Helle delivered a big hit to force a fumble that was recovered by Billington.
“Defensively, Keen, Heatly, Oliver, and Helle played well,” the coach said. “Offensively, Helle, Billington, Calhan Fairchild, and Heatly all had nice runs.”
Seventh Grade
Offensive mistakes cost the seventh grade Cubs in their third outing of the season.
“We have to continue to get better on both sides of the ball,” coach Ryder Peacock said. “We hurt ourselves too many times on offense to ever get anything going.”
Nicholas Gjerpe scored Albany’s lone touchdown on a 25-yard fumble return.
“Offensively, we got behind the chains way too many times,” Peacock said. “We couldn’t overcome the penalties that kept putting us in tough situations.”
Peacock said the Cubs (2-1) did show improvement in the passing game.
“I thought Wesley Gleitz threw the ball well overall and gave us some chances to make big plays,” Peacock said. “Jack Nail and Colter Edgar continued to run the ball hard.”
Peacock said the defense played well at times but couldn’t get the big stops that were needed.
“Zane Green, Nicholas Gjerpe, and Jack Nail did a good job of getting to the football overall,” he said. “One of the bright spots for us defensively is that we did force three turnovers.”
