A 28-7 loss for Creek Wood Friday night was not what the Red Hawks had in mind when they went on the road to face rival Fairview.
Don’t mistake what I mean, the Yellowjackets are a great team and certainly came in with just as much chance to win as Creek Wood.
Not like that though.
Not complicated offensive or defensive schemes.
No trick plays from YellowJacket Head Coach Chris Hughes.
The Red Hawks just looked out-classed.
Coach Hughes certainly make the adjustments throughout the game, do not get me wrong, but much like Creek Wood did to their cross-county rival Dickson County a week earlier, it wasn’t complicated.
Defensively, Fairview brought the house.
They plugged every running lane and forced QB Jacob Stephens to win with his arm.
Under immense pressure, Stephens could not get rid of the ball or accurately find his targets.
Offensively, the Yellowjackets were no more complicated.
They lined up in standard I formation, sometimes brought the motion, and just kept to the edges.
Whenever Creek Wood brought everyone down, play-action pass and off to the races.
It was a simple, yet effective night for Fairview coming off a loss to Page.
The Red Hawks now have to lick their wounds and try to find a few positives to take with them.
Michael Harris did not play offense but looked healthy at the LB spot all night.
Stephens, when he had time, threw for just over one hundred yards.
Jamison Ford once again showed why he is a mismatch any time in single coverage with a twenty-eight-yard TD reception.
Jayden Elliot, the freshman, also had a thirty-plus yard reception that was a shoe-string tackle from being a fifty or sixty-yard touchdown.
As I said, positives to take away for Creek Wood.
However, the road does not get easier.
Next week starts a three-week gauntlet you had hoped to be 2-0 entering.
Your next three contests are Marshall County on the road, Pearl-Cohn at home, and Tullahoma at home.
On the road or at home those are three very talented, well-coached, and storied programs.
The Red Hawks will need to soar high to compete and win any of those three games.
