Jr. high teams finish with wins
By Donnie A. Lucas
The Albany seventh and eighth grade Cubs ended the season last Thursday with a pair of victories.
The eighth grade team defeated Hamlin’s combined junior high squad 38-15, while the seventh graders shut out Haskell 44-0.
The eighth graders took their opening drive downfield, with Lanxton Viertel capping the series with a 10-yard scoring run. Quarterback Lute Wheeler connected with Cason Fairchild for the two-point play.
After a defensive stop, the Cubs scored on a 35-yard carry by Adam Hill, followed by the conversion by Fairchild.
Before the half, Hill caught a 12-yard pass for a score, and Viertel caught the two-point pass to put the Cubs up 24-0 at the half.
Cole Read recovered a fumble to set up the Cubs for a tally. Hill raced the ball 50 yards for the score, followed by a conversion pass to Viertel to make the score 32-7.
Later, Hill recovered a fumble on a kickoff to put the final series in play for a score. Viertel caught a 18-yard pass to end the scoring at 35-15.
The seventh grade team, also playing their season finale at Robert Nail Stadium, posted a 44-0 win over Haskell.
Ashton Bailey scored first on a four-yard run, followed by the conversion on a run by Dalton Richards.
Jayce Tinkle recovered a fumble and returned the ball 30 yards for a touchdown on the next series to put the score at 14-0. The PAT attempt failed.
Branson Beal grabbed an interception to set up the next score, leading to a 65-yard run by Bailey for his second touchdown. The two-pointer was good on a run by Ethan Green, raising the score to 22-0 at the half.
Richards got a long run at the start of the second half, setting up a 19-yard touchdown by Green. Beal scored the two-pointer.
Bailey scored again on a 32-yard run, and Richards tacked on the two-pointer.
With the clock winding down, Beal got a second interception for the night and returned the ball 60 yards for a touchdown. The try for two failed.
“Offensively, we did a great job running the ball,” coach David Fairchild said. “Our backs did a great job including Bailey, Richards, Beal, and Green.”
The coach commended the offensive line including John Birkla, Laithe Leech, Landon Balliew, Asher Brown, Hagen Miller, James Weaver, and Austin Sanchez.
“We got the shutout on defense with good plays by Andre Gjerpe, Dalton Richards, Ethan Green, Landon Balliew, Laithe Leech, Asher Brown and John Birkla,” he said. “We had big plays made by Jayce Tinkle and Branson Beal. Sutton Liming also had a good play on special teams.”
He said he is very pleased with the progress that the team has made.
“This group of young men fought hard in every game and worked hard the entire season.”
