Riordin Stauffer of Fairbanks runs for a touchdown Friday evening against West Liberty-Salem. The Panthers pummelled the Tigers, 42-7. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
There wasn’t much for Fairbanks High School head football coach Patrick Cotter to be unhappy about Friday evening.
“Oh, we’ve still got to work on cleaning up some little things, but overall, I don’t have much to complain about.”
That’s due to the fact the Panthers clubbed West Liberty-Salem, 42-7, during FHS’ Homecoming game.
There was little Fairbanks (4-2) did wrong in any facet of the game.
The Panthers (who will travel to neighboring Triad on Friday) gained 364 yards – all on the ground – and limited the Tigers to just 153 total yards.
Fairbanks’ power and speed infantry attack of Riordin Stauffer and Brogan Green once again turned in huge games.
Stauffer ran through Tiger defenders for 158 yards, while Green burned his way for 138.
FHS lost the ball on a fumble to begin the game, but forced the Tigers to punt on their first possession.
The Panthers scored their initial touchdown on their ensuing series.
Stauffer and Green took turns moving the ball on the ground and sent it into the end zone with a little more than six minutes left in the first period.
The Panthers fumbled the pigskin once it crossed the end line.
However, Evan Blumenschein recovered the bobble for the touchdown.
Cade Ziegler booted the extra point for a 7-0 lead.
Fairbanks’ defense continued to make life miserable for the Tigers as West Liberty-Salem lost the ball on downs.
FHS took a 14-0 lead as action moved into the second quarter.
Stauffer scored on a 32-yard run.
Ziegler’s conversion pushed the Panthers out to a 14-0 advantage.
The points came rapidly once again for Fairbanks after the Tigers were forced to punt.
Stauffer capped a short series with a 52-yard scoring jaunt.
Ziegler put his foot to the ball and pushed FHS out to a 21-0 lead with a little more than six minutes remaining until halftime.
Fairbanks was not done scoring before the halftime break.
Zach Schmidt of FHS recovered a fumble at the Panther 40.
One play later, Green blasted through the Tiger defense for a 60-yard touchdown.
FHS’ special teams set up the next score.
Brice Phelps blocked a punt and Blumenschein fell on the ball.
That gave Fairbanks a short field at the Tiger 13.
Ethan Kise then carried the ball in for a 12-yard touchdown with 1:55 remaining until the intermission.
Ziegler kicked two extra points to send the Panthers into the turn with a 35-0 advantage.
The second half began with the running clock rule.
The Tigers tallied their lone touchdown on the opening series of the third quarter.
The TD came on a seven-yard pass from quarterback Christian Griffith to Trevor Berry.
The extra point by Logan Saylor sliced the Tigers’ deficit to 35-7 and briefly returned the game clock to normal time.
Fairbanks, however, once again sliced through West Liberty’s defense.
Green tallied a 13-yard touchdown run.
Ziegler converted on the extra point for a 42-7 FHS margin.
The running clock mandate was again invoked for the remainder of the game.