Fairview High School moved to 5-0 on Friday night, opening Region 6-3A play with a 40-9 win over Stewart County on a homecoming night that drew plenty of attention. The Yellow Jackets are ranked eighth in the latest TSWA Class 3A statewide poll.

A big night off the field

Festivities began before kickoff. Williamson County Sheriff Jeff Hughes, a Fairview alumnus, delivered the game ball by helicopter, and Gov. Bill Lee took part in the pregame coin toss. The class of 1986 was honored, and the school inducted seven new members into its Hall of Fame: Mike Mangrum and Wanda Bledsoe (basketball), Richard Branch (football), Curtis Putnam (coach), Shelby Hoppe (softball), Dion Goodwin (supporter), and the 1991 baseball team.

A slow start, then a surge

Stewart County struck first. Anthony Bisogno hit Colt Lafargue on an 11-yard scoring pass less than three minutes in. Fairview answered with an eight-play drive that ended on Kentrell Harrison's 1-yard run, and the extra point put the Yellow Jackets up 7-6.

They added to the lead after fumbling near the goal line, when Emmett Sutton fell on the loose ball in the end zone for a touchdown. Fairview then recovered an onside kick and scored within seconds, as quarterback Issac Burgos connected with Lincoln Kelley on a 49-yard pass down the right sideline. That made it 20-6 in the first quarter.

Stewart County kicked a 44-yard field goal in the second quarter, but Fairview closed the half with a 13-play drive. Burgos found Kelley again, this time for 24 yards on 4th-and-11, to make it 27-9 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Sutton scored from 19 yards and Julius Carter added an 11-yard run. That put the game on a running clock for the fourth.

Ground game and defense

Fairview rushed for 253 yards. Carter led the way with 104 yards and a score on 12 carries, and Harrison, a strong short-yardage runner, also found the end zone. Burgos was efficient through the air, going 6-of-8 for 123 yards and two touchdowns, while Kelley finished with four catches for 98 yards.

The defense also delivered, recovering two fumbles and turning Stewart County away twice on fourth down at the 1-yard line. Through five games, Fairview has outscored opponents 136-63, and Class 5A Centennial is the only team to score more than one touchdown against them.

Coach Chris Hughes credited the defense for repeatedly bailing out the offense and said the team played with extra energy fitting for homecoming. Players said the extra week of preparation for their first region game paid off, and Kelley noted that the program's younger players are getting valuable experience.

Looking ahead

Fairview hosts Sycamore in another region game in Week 6. Sycamore earned its first win of the season by beating Harpeth 61-30 in Week 5. Three of the Yellow Jackets' final four regular-season games will be on the road.