TIGERS GROUND EAGLES TO ADVANCE TO D - 10 TITLE GAME !!!

The Fairview Tigers took advantages of four Grove City turnovers and some untimely penalties to defeat the Eagles 32 - 7 and advance to the District Ten title game next week against Wilmington, a 35 - 7 winner over Sharon.  The Eagles stunned the partisan Tiger crowd on their first offensive play, when Dwayne Martin threw a 45 yard halfback option pass to Drew Bestwick  to jump out to a 7 - 0 lead.  The Tigers, who struggled offensively, were aided by some outstanding defensive plays, the first by Gary Corbin early in the second quarter.  Corbin, who finished with 12 tackles, stopped opposing quarterback Josh Haugh on a 4th and inches play to give the Tigers the ball on the Fairview 42.  Five plays later Tyler Sargent scored the first of his three touchdowns by galloping 25 yards into the end zone.  Zane Meeder's PAT tied the game and turned the momentum over to the Tigers.

On their next possession, the Eagles fumbled at the Fairview 41 as Andy Dawson jumped on the loose ball.  It took just six plays for Fairview to take its first lead of the game, this time Corbin going in himself from 4 yards out.  Meeder's kick after was blocked, and an interception by Sargent in the last minute of the half preserved the lead for Fairview at 13 - 7.

The Eagles took the opening kickoff and moved swiftly down the field to start the second half.  Chris Clark, who finished with 176 yards rushing on just 21 carries, appeared headed for a tying touchdown, but was run down by Sargent at the Fairview 20 yard line.  This proved to be a big play as Josh Haugh fumbled outside the 1 yard line on a first and goal at the 3.  E. J. Kruse fell on the loose ball in the end zone, giving the Tigers possession at their 20.  Jack Mc Cann, who finished with 182 yards on 26 rushes, scampered 35 yards on a 3rd and 29 to keep the drive alive and run valuable minutes off the clock.

Although not able to score on that drive, it allowed the Tigers to regain field position as Justin Haney's punt traveled to the 9 yard line.  Three plays later, Tyler Sargent grabbed his second interception of the game and raced into the end zone from 36 yards to give Fairview some breathing room at 19 - 7.  Grove City lost the ball on downs at the Fairview 16 with 10 minutes left in the game.  The Tigers went back to their staple, the running game, and marched 84 yards in 10 plays, with Jack McCann going in from 5 yards out for a 25  - 7 lead after the failed two point try. Sargent closed out the scoring when he rumbled in from three yeards out after the Eagles turned it over on downs.  Meeder's PAT finished the scoring.

E. J. Kruse turned in his best game of the year recording 6 tackles, a fumble recovery and two sacks and Andrew Dawson had the other fumble recovery for Fairview.  Gary Corbin and Justin Haney, the two offensive stars last week, showed they can play on both sides of the ball as they each recorded 12 tackles. Matt Sundberg chipped in with 7 tackles, several at key times in the game and Sargent had 7 tackles to go along with his two interceptions, giving him 5 INT's on the season. Pat Michael
quietly had 11 tackles as the Tigers improved to 10 -1 on the season.  Fairview will play Wilmington next week at a site and time not yet determined.