What We Saw: Fairfield Central 22, Chester 6

Brandon Stockdale October 11, 2024 @ 11:44 PM

WINNSBORO | Something had to give eventually in Friday's defensive stalemate between Chester and Fairfield Central.   Neither team could get much going offensively throughout the contest. Whether it was a bad snap on a punt for Chester in the first half or the Griffins getting stuffed on the goal line in the second half.   One of the highlights for Fairfield Central was the play of running back [player_tooltip player_id='1012718' first='TyDarion' last='Grier']. He was used on direct snap plays to get the ball in his hands early and often. When it mattered in a tight game in the fourth quarter, the Shrine Bowl selection (pictured above) scored two touchdowns of 64 and 26 yards, to go along with a 260+ rushing yard night to help the Griffins pull away from the Cyclones, 22-6 on Friday night.   “I just sit there and let my line develop and do what they do – I hit the hole … I was down in the first half and I had to pick it up,” Grier said.   [player_tooltip player_id='1578828' first='Zeke' last='Evans'] kicked started things for the Cyclones' offense with a great catch near the sideline, showing great concentration. That led to a Zay Feaster 2-yard touchdown run to give Chester a 6-0 lead with 2:10 to play in the first quarter. The two-point try was no good.    “They outplayed our offense and that was the difference in the game. Hats off to them. Our defense played really well but their defense outplayed our offense. They beat us in the trenches,” Chester head coach Victor Floyd said.   Eric Martinez knocked through a field goal to give the Griffins a 9-6 lead going into the halftime locker room.   Following the goal line stop for the Chester defense, it looked like they were set up to break the seal towards the end of the third quarter with a big catch and run from [player_tooltip player_id='1592278' first='Hudhaifah' last='Taylor'], but the drive ended with an interception by Jalen Squirewell. And then Chester would get a sack and fumble recovery of their own, but when the Griffins needed a stop, they got it.   “Like we tell the kids, just keep playing. (With) games like this, the game is not going to be won or lost on one play. It's going to be a series of plays that's going to allow you to either win or lose. And hats off to the defensive staff and hats off to [player_tooltip player_id='1012718' first='TyDarion' last='Grier'] getting in there and just wearing those guys down. They made some tackles on him early but I knew, sooner or later, they were going to wear down eventually so [player_tooltip player_id='1012718' first='TyDarion' last='Grier'] had an unbelievable night offensively,” Fairfield Central head coach Demetrius Davis said.   Additional Chester standouts   [player_tooltip player_id='1592591' first='Zy' last='Whitlock'] made an outstanding tackle in punt coverage.   Joe Presley came through the line like a cannon to force a Fairfield Central punt with 3:32 to play in the first half.   T'Mari Caldwell had a big kickoff return to open the contest.   Additional Fairfield Central standouts   Steven Gadsen and [player_tooltip player_id='1578741' first='Chauncery' last='Turner'] each registered tackles for loss as they harassed the Chester offensive line throughout the night.   Kaden Diggs looked impressive in the short passing game, to help aid the Griffins downfield.

WINNSBORO | Something had to give eventually in Friday's defensive stalemate between Chester and Fairfield Central.