Rematch with Olney set for area round
By Sam Waller
The Albany Lions took the first step forward in the Class 2A Division II football playoffs last Thursday with a 68-0 bi-district victory over the Era Hornets at Iowa Park’s Hawk Stadium.
The margin of victory was the largest in Albany’s postseason history, surpassing 57-point bi-district victories against Ranger (64-7 in 1989) and Rotan (70-13 in 2008).
That earned the Lions (10-0) a rematch with Olney in the area round at 7:00 p.m. Thursday (tonight) at Graham’s Newton Field. Albany defeated the Cubs 55-6 on Oct. 1 for homecoming at Robert Nail Memorial Stadium.
Against Era, Albany scored touchdowns on its first 10 possessions before running out the clock on its 11th. Cole Chapman passed for four touchdowns and ran for a fifth, while Jaheim Newton had three rushing touchdowns as Albany posted its second-highest point total in postseason play.
“I thought we played really well throughout,” Lions head coach Denney Faith said. “They were loading up to stop the run and gave us an opportunity to throw the ball. We were very efficient doing that.”
With leading receiver Cooper Fairchild held out because of an ankle injury, London Fuentes stepped up with three catches for 83 yards.
“In practice, we worked all week with the receivers on getting open and Cole finding us,” Fuentes said.
Newton led a rushing attack that accounted for 326 yards and averaged nearly 11 yards per carry.
The Albany defense recorded its fourth shutout and held Era (2-9) to 82 total yards, most of which came on one fourth-quarter drive.
“We put a couple of different pressures on that we’ve used in the past,” Faith said. “It’s just been awhile since we’ve faced a team that tried to spread the field and throw it.”
The Hornets moved the ball well enough to record 11 first downs, third-most by an opponent this season, but every gain seemed to be followed by a loss. Albany recorded 17 tackles for 59 yards in losses and held the Hornets to negative yards rushing until the fourth quarter.
Taren Farmer led the Lions with 5.5 tackles, 4.5 of which were for loss. Brooks Neece had 4.5 tackles with two for loss, while Ryan Mark had 3.5 tackles with 1.5 for loss. Lanxton Viertel, Robert Bailey, Samuel Rosas, Tye Edgar, and Branson Beal each had three tackles. Hill had an interception in the first quarter.
“We were told to watch the out-breaking routes, the wheel routes especially because that’s how they scored twice on Muenster,” Mark said. “Our defensive backs came out and executed and held them to zero.”
Hill said pressure applied by the defensive front, with five sacks, made things easier on the secondary.
“It gave us our reads and made us ready to make a play,” he said. “The quarterback had to throw it away several times.”
A dozen plays into the game, Albany took the lead for good when Newton capped a six-play drive with his first score, then the Lions pushed the lead to 20-0 over the next 3:35 with a pair of one-play drives.
“We wanted to start fast offensively and put a little pressure on them,” Faith said. “I was pleased that the plan came together.”
The Lions also had a two-play drive and a pair of three-play drives in the second quarter to take a 48-0 halftime lead.
Albany had two TDs in the third quarter before Albany’s junior varsity call-ups took over in the fourth quarter. Branson Beal took a short toss from Lute Wheeler 16 yards for the final TD.
Era came within a yard of avoiding the shutout with an 11-play drive that covered 55 yards. On first-and-goal from the Albany 7, Era’s Will Richardson fumbled through the end zone for a touchback, allowing the Lions to kneel out the last 1:44.
“I think it’s huge that the JV got to get into a situation like that in a playoff game, gaining invaluable experience,” Faith said. “They’re getting extra practice time and even some extra playing time right now. That doesn’t do anything but help you in the future.”
Area Playoff
Faith said the Lions must avoid complacency after beating Olney seven weeks ago.
“We talk all the time about how one of the biggest enemies can be ourselves,” he said. “We need to make sure we’re not looking back at that game. This is a completely new situation.”
Olney (6-5) defeated Ralls 49-14 last week.
Albany will be the visiting team, wearing white, with fans sitting on the east side.
The area champion will face the winner of Thursday’s Muenster-Seymour playoff in the regional round over Thanksgiving.
Ticket Info
All tickets are $5 and must be purchased online. To purchase tickets, go to www.grahamisd.com and click on the tickets tab.
District and senior passes will be accepted.
Albany fans should enter through the visitors gate off Carolina Street.
