FRIDAY’S GAME
Who: Fairmont (3-4) at Springfield (2-5)
Where: Evans Stadium, Springfield
When: 7 p.m.
Top performers
Passing: Fairmont — Jaryd Murphy 42-70 for 705 yards, 5 TDs, 2 INTs; Springfield — Nick McCaughey 66-125 for 727 yards, 6 TDs, 9 INTs and Saalih Muhammad 17-32 for 306 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs.
Rushing: Fairmont — Nick Moreland 53 carries for 290 yards, 3 TDs; Springfield — Danny Davis 71-510, 6 TDs.
Receiving: Fairmont — KeiVan Tanner 22 receptions for 555 yards, 6 TDs; Springfield — Dae’Shawn Jackson 28-471, 2 TDs.
Tackles: Fairmont — Andrew Garwood 60 tackles (36 solo); Springfield — Trey Montgomery 74 tackles (29 solo).
The Springfield Wildcats are playing for more than a victory against Fairmont on Homecoming.
The Wildcats are playing for fallen teammate Jeff Wellington, who would have celebrated his 18th birthday today.
They plan to honor Wellington with a balloon launch prior to the national anthem.
“Everything we do is for my brother in heaven, Jeffrey Wellington,” senior Henry Alexander said earlier this season. “We go play our hearts out for him. It’s not just about us. It’s about him, too. He’s a part of the family.”
Wellington’s No. 5 jersey he wore during his junior season is present at every Wildcats game.
Wellington was visiting friends at the Coventry Village apartment complex around 2:30 a.m. on April 20 when a dispute he was not involved in broke out. Wellington attempted to resolve the dispute and was shot one time.
“I just want to play for him,” Alexander said. “Every play is for him.”
Springfield has lost two straight games, including last week’s tough 24-21 setback to Beavercreek. Springfield trailed 17-0 late in the first quarter. Fairmont lost 32-0 to Wayne last week, but the week before threw a scare into undefeated Centerville before falling 21-10 in overtime.
This season has been a learning experience for the Wildcats under first-year coach Maurice Douglass and his system.
“We have 27 kids who are playing high school football for the first time, including five seniors. We’ll get better,” Douglass said after last week’s loss to Beavercreek.
“You have to understand football. That’s one thing about our kids, they really have no football IQ. This is the hardest team I’ve ever been around as far as understanding football. They don’t watch football so they don’t really understand it.”
Springfield averages 266 yards in total offense to Fairmont’s 260. The difference could be on defense. Springfield allows 365 yards to Fairmont’s 259.
And last week, Beavercreek held the ball for 35 minutes, 46 seconds thanks in part to 61 rushing attempts. Springfield had the ball for 12:14, but still rallied within 24-21 with two minutes left in the fourth quarter.
“I will give the kids credit. They were resilient. They fought back but it was a little too late,” Douglass said. “We have a JV team. We have a JV team playing in the GWOC Central. We have eight new guys on offense that have never played football and nine on defense. Basically we have a JV team playing on Friday nights.
“I’m not crying over spilled milk, I’m just saying we’re going to be better.”
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