By Wes Sparkmon
Coming off their first win of the season, Jake Beathard and the Fairview Yellow Jackets traveled to Waverly Central and handed the Tigers their first loss of the season, 34-25.
After a scoreless first quarter, Waverly was able to strike first by blocking a Fairview punt and recover the ball for a touchdown. Fairview responded with a touchdown drive, ending in a Hunter Caldwell 4 yard touchdown run. The Yellow Jackets attempt at a 2 point conversion would be turned away, making the score 7-6 midway through the 2nd quarter. The Tigers offense would score two touchdowns before the half, but with both extra point attempts falling short and sending the teams to the half with the Tigers leading 19-6.
Fairview’s Beathard Leads Second Half Charge
Fairview would open the second half with a bang and score for 10 yards out to cut the Tigers lead to 19-13. The Yellow Jackets would get the ball back and, less than one minute later, Jake Beathard would punch it in from 10 yards out. Only 2 minutes and 37 seconds into the second half and Fairview would have the lead 20-19, which they would not relinquish. On their next drive, Hunter Zimmermann would connect with Jake Beathard on a 90-yard touchdown pass, expanding the Yellow Jacket lead to 27-19, which would be the score at the end of 3.
In the fourth quarter, the Tigers were able to punch the ball in from 1 yard out but were unable to convert their 2 point conversion, making the score 27-25. On their next drive, the Yellow Jacket offense was able to string together a game-sealing drive, capped off by a 20-yard touchdown pass from Jacob Baker to Ben Buttrey, which would give Fairview the win, 34-25.
The win moved the Yellow Jackets to 2-2 on the season, 1-0 in Class 3A Region 6. Fairview will be on their bye week next Friday before hosting Hickman County on the 25th in their final game outside of regional play.
