Melrose Edges Fairley in Region 8 Showdown
If you weren’t part of the 3,000 – 4,000 fans at J.P. Freeman Stadium� tonight you missed a great ballgame. Fairley and Melrose slugged it out for four� quarters with Melrose scoring the winning touchdown with two minutes left� in the game to edge Fairley 12 – 6.
Fairley came out playing tough defense stuffing Melrose on their first� several series. Fairley was able to move the ball to the Melrose 30 yard line� with some surgical passes by Jemarcus Robinson (Smoke) and a couple of hard runs� by Artavious Gregory (Bowlegs) but we were unable to get it in the end� zone. The first quarter ended with the score 0 – 0.
In the second quarter Melrose was able to move the ball to the Fairley 10� yard line but the Bulldogs defense stiffened denying the Golden Wildcats a� score. When the teams headed to the locker rooms for halftime the score remained� 0 – 0.
The third quarter saw both teams put points on the board. Fairley scored on� a 55 yard interception return for a touchdown by Deangelo Anderson (D-Lo). His fifth interception and second touchdown of the season. Fairley led 6 – 0 when� Melrose drove 60 yards for their first score. Their extra point try failed and� the game was tied 6 – 6. The South Fairley faithful erupted when D-Lo returned� the kickoff 60 yards to the Melrose 35 yard line but the joy soon subsided when� Fairley drove the ball to the Melrose 6 yard line but was stopped. The third� quarter ended with the score still tied at 6 – 6.
The fourth quarter saw the longest offensive drive of the game and the� season against the Bulldog defense when Melrose marched the ball 94 yards down� the field taking ten minutes off the clock. Fairley received the kickoff and� methodically moved the ball downfield to the Melrose 28 yard line. Fairley� turned the ball over to Melrose on downs with 45 seconds left in the game and� Melrose took a knee ending the hard fought game.
Next week’s game is against Oakhaven. Tom Mullady, who played wide receiver� in the NFL for six years with the New York Giants will eat with the� boys at their pre-game meal and do the devotional.