By ANN THARP
Special to The Leader
The Sylvan Hills Bears dominated the J.A. Fair War Eagles Friday night at Bill Blackwood Field.
The Bears (7-1, 4-1)scored 21 points before the Eagles touched the ball, and the two teams agreed to start the mercy rule clock early in the second quarter with Sylvan Hills leading 37-0.
“Trying to keep getting better till we get to the playoffs,” said Sylvan Hills coach Jim Withrow. “We tried to emphasize that. We had kind of a tough week because we had such a disappointing loss last week, but we’re just trying to get better each week.”
Sylvan Hills had the first possession of the game and started from their own 27-yard line. On fourth and eight from the 29, quarterback Jordan Washington connected with Ryan Lumpkin for 13 yards and the first down. Washington was then complete to Deon Youngblood for 14 and another first down. Youngblood then ran for two consecutive first downs, followed by Washington to Lumpkin for 19 yards and first and goal on the 4-yard line. Ty Compton took it from there into the end zone for the score. Wesley Smith added the extra point for the 7-0 early lead with 9:28 to go in the opening quarter.
Fair failed to cover the ensuing kick off by Tito Mendoza, and it was recovered by Anthony Duncan for the Bears. It only took three plays to reach the end zone again, with Washington carrying for 27 yards to the 1-yard line, and then in for the touchdown. Smith was good with point after, and the lead was 14-0 with 8:01 in the quarter.
Again, the kick off was recovered by Duncan and Sylvan Hills had the ball on the War Eagle 49-yard line. This time, Washington finished the drive with a 28-yard touchdown reception to Youngblood. Again, the extra point was successful by Smith and the lead grew to 21-0, still in the first quarter with 6:35 remaining.
The Bear defense added a safety when Davien Farr tackled Datrick Johnson in the end zone to up the lead to 23-0.
After the safety, Daelyn Fairrow ran 27 yards before Washington took it the last 10 for the touchdown on the two-play drive. Smith was good again and the score was 30-0 with 5:30 still remaining in the quarter.
Fair started their drive on their 37-yard line and moved to the Bear 48-yard line before being forced to punt. The snap was fumbled and recovered by a War Eagle, but the ball went over on downs to the Bears on the Fair 40-yard line. Washington had runs of 9 and 11 and Fairrow runs of 15 and 3 before the touchdown was scored by Jamar Porter from 2 yards out. With Smith’s extra point, the score was 37-0 just six plays into the second quarter. That’s when the teams agreed to start the mercy-rule clock.
Fair immediately fumbled the ball again, Tylan Harris covered it for Sylvan Hills. On the very next play, Washington found Jamar Lane for a 14-yard touchdown pass, and the score was 43-0 with 11:42 in the second quarter. This time the point after was not successful.
Sylvan Hills blocked a Fair punt to start the second half, and from the War Eagle 31-yard line, scored the only points of the last two quarters. Lumpkin had a 10-yard completion to Lane for first and goal at the 4-yard line. Porter scored from there. Simon Nagora came in to kick the successful point after to set the final score.
The Bears finished with 301 yards of offense. Washington was 5 of 7 passing for 86 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed six times for 65 yards and two touchdowns. Fairrow had six carries for 53 yards.
Sylvan Hills will host Parkview next Friday.
