... - Sports - Preps - Chester

Saturday, Oct. 04, 2008

Chester 21, Fairfield Central 18

CHESTER — An explosive passing attack has thus far been the signature of the potent Chester Cyclones offense this season.

However, it was a methodical, grind-it-out running game that propelled the Cyclones’ offense Friday to a 21-18, Region 3-AAA opening win over Fairfield Central at the Chester Stadium.

Chester moved the ball in the air with sophomore quarterback sensation Tony McNeal completing 13 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns. However, the Cyclones’ running game paid huge dividends down the stretch.

Protecting a 21-12 lead with 8:52 on the clock, Chester ran the ball 14 times on its last drive with tailback Julius Pendergrass’ number called 13 times. The Cyclones did not produce any points but picked up four first downs and gained 60 yards to the Griffins’ 9-yard line.

Chester turned the ball over on downs but forced Fairfield Central to burn all of its timeouts while regaining possession with only 1:38 on the clock.

“People consider us to be a passing team, but when it comes down to it, we know what we have to do to win,” Chester massive lineman Kaylon Davis said.

Pendergrass finished with 98 rushing yards and Bobby Kelly added 77 as the Cyclones finished with a season-high 190 yards on the ground.

In fact, it was the running game that produced the first points. Lining up in punt formation, Chester used a fake as C.J. Turner took the handoff and raced 36 yards for the score. A 26-yard run from Kelly was the key play in the Cyclones’ second scoring drive, which ended with McNeal tossing a 5-yard strike to Fred Lee.

The Griffins, ranked fifth in the Class AAA poll, cut the deficit to 14-6 at the half, but Chester provided what proved to be the clinching points when McNeal scrambled out of the pocket and found tight end Roberto Howze on a 9-yard pass with 7:43 remaining in the third quarter.

CHESTER 21, FAIRFIELD CENTRAL 18

Fairfield Central.....0.....6.....6.....6.....—.....18

Chester.....7.....7.....7.....0.....—.....21

SCORING SUMMARY

C — C.J. Turner 36-yard run on fake punt (Marshall Whitesides kick)

C — Tony McNeal 5-yard pass to Fred Lee (Whitesides kick)

FC — Greg Gadsden 5-yard run (kick failed)

C — McNeal 9-yard pass to Roberto Howze (Whitesides kick)

FC — Gadsden 5-yard run (run failed)

FC — Danny Miller 10-yard pass to McKendrix Thompson

TEAM STATISTICS

.....FCHS.....CHS

First downs.....18.....19

Rushes-yards.....39-175.....36-190

Comp-Att-Int .....14-21-1.....13-26-1

Passing yards.....155.....179

Fumbles-lost.....3-2.....0-0

Penalties-yards.....11-94.....6-45

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Fairfield Central: Shane Boulware 6-30, Justin Trapp 12-41, Greg Gadsden 14-70, Danny Miller 6-34. Chester: Julius Pendergrass 25-98, C.J. Turner 1-36, Bobby Kelly 7-77, Tony McNeal 3-(-21).

PASSING — Fairfield Central: Justin Trapp 4-7-1-24. Danny Miller 10-14-0-131 Chester: Tony McNeal 13-26-1-179.

RECEIVING — Fairfield Central: Shane Boulware 1-9, Chori Evans 3-36, McKendrix Thompson 6-47, Shaquille Young 2-20, Greg Boyd 3-14, Greg Gadsden 1-30. Chester: Fred Lee 5-69, Jeremy Hughes 3-54, Julius Pendergrass 3-45, Tony McNeal 1-2, Roberto Howze 1-9.

RECORDS — Fairfield Central 4-2, 0-1 Region 3-AAA; Chester 3-3, 1-0.