Photo Credit: Joe Caronia/PrepsKC 
Fair Grove traveled to Lafayette County, and continued their unbeaten season, with a hard fought 14-13, victory. In a game dominated by field position and defensive stands, special teams decided the outcome.
The first half was dominated by both teams’ defense. The Fair Grove Eagles did not allow a first down, on the Huskers first two drives. The Huskers defense matched their opponents by holding twice, on 4th down, in the first half.
Lafayette County did score late in the second quarter. Brock Page, connected with Mariano Rodriquez, on a 30-yard touchdown pass. Rodriquez made a twisting catch against good coverage for the score. Cody Gast converted the kick.
The Eagles did have a chance to tie late in the half. They had the ball inside the 10-yard line, with under a minute to play. The 4th down pass, to the end zone was incomplete and the teams went to the locker room for half time.
Everything changed, for the Eagles, on the opening kickoff of the second half. Kellen Lair fielded the kick at his own 2-yard line, in the left-hand corner of the field. Lair ran straight to about the 10-yard line, and then started angling toward the center of the field. Suddenly he broke towards the right sideline and simply outran everyone on the field, for a 98-yard kickoff return. Gavin Brock converted the kick, and the game was tied.
Lafayette County, then controlled the ball, methodically moving down the field. The Huskers held the ball for over eight minutes, but going for it on 4th down, at the Eagles 2-yard line, they did not convert the first down giving the ball, to Fair Grove.
The Huskers got the ball after a punt, and Rodriquez took an inside handoff, and navigated through the Eagles defense, for an impressive 69-yard run, for the score. Gast’s kick went wide right, and the lead was just six points.
The Eagles went right down the field, and scored a touchdown when quarterback, Spensar Seiger connected with Skylar Todd for a 10-yard pass play. Todd dove into the end zone for the last yard of the play. Gavin Brock’s kick sailed through the uprights, with the most important point of the game.
The Huskers did get the ball back twice more, but had a turnover on downs, on the first drive, and the second drive ended with an interception.
With the loss, Lafayette County finishes with a 10-2 record. Fair Grove does battle with South Shelby, with the winner advancing to the state title game.
