AYDEN — Two polar opposite offenses squared off Friday night with a chance to move on to the second round of the NCHSAA 2A state playoffs — an aerial attack by Fairmont that racked up 422 yards through the air and Ayden-Grifton’s ground game, which ran the ball 59 times for 313 yards.
But it was two completions turned by AG quarterback Hunter Cannon on just three passing attempts on the night — both to junior Jake Wright — that helped the surging Chargers advance to host Edenton Holmes next week with a 41-28 victory.
AG’s record is now 6-6 overall.
“When you put nine (defenders) in the box, eventually you’re going to have to put it out there,” Chargers coach Paul Cornwell said. “(Wright) is a great receiver and (Cannon) did a great job getting the ball to him.”
After holding the Tornadoes to four-and-out on their first two series — drives that only saw a single Fairmont completion — the Chargers were able to take advantage of a short field following a botched handle, as the visitors were attempting to punt.
R.J. Nelson needed just three plays from 15 yards out to give the Chargers a short-lived lead.
Short-lived because on the Tornadoes’ first drive after giving up the score, Jarrod Neal connected with Shemar Barfield for a 65-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion by Quenton Walker would give Fairmont it’s only lead of the night.
The two teams would trade touchdowns in the second quarter, including Wright’s first touchdown from 34 yards out. Fairmont would be unable to convert its PAT attempt to make the game 14-all at the half.
Out of the second half gate, Nelson ran for scores of eight and 72 yards to put the Chargers up by 14 with 4:43 remaining in the third quarter.
But Fairmont (8-4), which lived and died by the big play Friday night, would not give up quietly. The Tornado’s Shyheim Hines would return the ensuing kickoff 91 yards to pull within six points.
On the following AG possession, the Chargers’ Josh Walston would pin Fairmont inside its own 1-yard line. With 99 yards to tie the game up, Neal, who passed 38 times for 422 yards (27 completions) would make his only mistake of the night. An underthrown ball, thrown from the Tornado end zone, was picked off by Drew Turnage.
“You know, we’re probably playing on of the best passing teams in the state and it’s obvious they’re pretty good (through the air),” Cornwell said. “They’re team is averaging 40 or 50 points a game, I think our defense did some really good things.”
Wright’s second touchdown grab, a pass slightly over thrown that the tight end was able pull in with a single outstretched hand, quickly followed and helped extend the Charger lead with 13:34 remaining in the game.
A two-yard touchdown by Turnage would give the Chargers their nightly tally of 41 points.
Down three scores, Neal, who accounted for 439 of his team’s 460 yards, would lead one final charge driving 71-yards in less than a minute before connecting with Fields for his team’s final score of the night.
Ayden-Grifton held Fairmont to just 10 runs for positive yards — five of which were by Neal after being chased from the pocket.
Nelson led all rushers with 277 yards. He has scored eight touchdowns in the Charger’s last two games.
AYDEN-GRIFTON 41, FAIRMONT 28
Fairmont 8 6 6 8 —28
Ayden-Grifton 7 7 20 7 —41
First Quarter
AG — RJ Nelson 9 run, Josh Walston kick. 4:59
F — Shemar Barfield 65 pass from Jarrod Neal, Quenton Walker run. 4:49
Second Quarter
AG — Jake Wright 34 pass from Hunter Cannon, Walston kick. 6:08
F — De’Shawn Field 12 pass from Neal, run fail. 1:35
Third Quarter
AG — Nelson 8 run, Walston kick. 7:28
AG — Nelson 72 run, Walston kick. 4:43
F — Keshawn Leonard 91 kickoff return, pass fail. 4:27
AG — Wright 26 pass from Cannon, kick fail. 1:34
Fourth Quarter
AG — Drew Turnage 2 run, Walston kick. 6:20
F — Fields 10 pass from Neal, Shyheim Hines pass from Neal. 0:26
F AG
First downs 16 16
Rushes-yards 19-38 59-313
Passing 27-38-1 2-3-0
Passing yards 422 60
Total yards 460 373
Fumbles-lost 1-0 1-0
Penalties 11-107 4-25
Punts-avg 2-36.5 3-32
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS:
RUSHING — F: Neal 8-17, Walker 5-7, Hines 2-12, Team 4-2. AG: Nelson 39-277, Turnage 14-34, Michael Baker 3-8, Cannon 3-(minus-6).
PASSING — F: Neal 27-38-1 422. AG: Cannon 2-3-0 60
RECEIVING — F: Barfield 11-241, Fields 6-65, Walker 3-10, Hines 2-57, Ethan Baldwin 5-49. AG: Wright 2-60.