Fairbanks’ Riordin Stauffer (24) is tackled near the goal line Friday evening. The Panthers lost at Mechanicsburg, 62-14. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
Mechanicsburg is the type of football team against which no one can afford to make too many mistakes and expect to survive.
The Indians had that reputation going into the shortened 2020 campaign and the Fairbanks Panthers saw it first-hand Friday evening.
It started at the beginning of the game when an FHS onside kick failed to cover the needed 10 yards for either team to have an opportunity to grab the pigskin.
The Indians gained possession and scored two plays into the contest.
The evening continued en route to a 62-14 Indians’ victory and Fairbanks’ first loss in five outings.
“We just made too many mistakes,” said Fairbanks head coach Patrick Cotter. “If you make mistakes against them, they will make you pay for them.”
Mechanicsburg began its first series on a short field at the FHS 45-yard-line.
The second snap of the possession resulted in Jake Hurst rolling into the end zone from 38 yards out.
Danny Mascadri’s extra point gave the Burg a quick 7-0 lead.
Fairbanks was stopped on both of its first two series and had to punt.
The Indians’ defense bottled up the Panthers to the tune of only 185 yards of total offense.
Mechanicsburg converted another quick possession into a touchdown after the Panthers’ second punt.
Quarterback Aaron Conley rifled an 88-yard scoring strike to Keith Bebout.
It was the first of three long touchdown passes over the FHS defensive secondary.
“Our defensive backs had some problems being out of position tonight,” said Cotter. “That’s a situation we can correct.”
The Indians were armed with a 14-0 lead just three minutes into the opening period.
Mechanicsburg experienced a rare turnover when Conley suffered an interception with 7:43 to go in the first quarter.
The Panthers took over on the Burg 36 and put together an eight-play drive.
Ashton Griffith put the first Panther points on the board with a two-yard burst into the end zone.
Cade Ziegler’s extra point sliced FHS’ deficit in half at 14-7.
Conley found Fairbanks’ secondary a little lacking during the home team’s next possession.
He drilled a 30-yard pass to Bebout for another score.
Mascadri’s conversion sent the Indians into the second quarter with a 21-7 margin.
The Indians held possession of the ball later in the quarter and scored on another long pass a minute into the ensuing stanza.
Conley put a bit of fire on a 53-yard scoring strike to Hurst.
Mascadri’s PAT pushed the Indians out to a 28-7 lead.
The Panthers answered back for a final time on their next possession.
Brogan Green picked up 33 of his 58 rushing yards as he raced into the end zone.
Ziegler’s extra point once again sliced Fairbanks’ deficit in half at 28-14.
That, however, was the extent of the Panthers’ offense.
On the other hand, the Indians were far from finished with their offense that piled on 554 total yards for the night.
Chayse Propst scored on a one-yard run as the Indians took a 34-14 lead at halftime.
Mechanicsburg continued to have its way against a Panther defense that had trouble putting ball carriers to the ground.
Third-quarter scores for the Indians came on Propst’s 16-yard run and Conley’s seven-yard pass to Debout.
Mascadri’s extra points sent Mechanicsburg into the final quarter with a 48-14 lead.
The running clock rule, which is mandated after one team claims a 30-plus point margin in the second half, sped up the fourth stanza.
The Indians’ second-team offense, however, added insult to injury with a pair of TDs.
Backup quarterback Jayden Roland flipped an 18-yard scoring pass to Liam Smith.
Roland also ran in the two-point conversion.
The final touchdown came on Dylan Schetter’s 36-yard run.
“Both teams played hard tonight,” said Cotter, whose team will now prepare for the regular season finale on Friday against West Jefferson.
Friday’s contest will be FHS’ Homecoming game.