Fairbanks edges Waynesfield in NWCC battle

WAYNESFIELD - In a contest that had two game-changing plays - a high snap on a punt attempt and an on-side kick - both went against Waynesfield-Goshen and the result was a 31-27 victory for Fairbanks on Friday night at Waynesfield.

The game was for the Northwest Central Conference league title as both teams entered the game at 7-2 overall and undefeated at 6-0 in league play.

The Panthers took the opening kickoff and promptly marched 65 yards in 11 plays to grab a 6-0 lead.

The Tigers answered immediately when they went 67 yards in only eight plays to grab a 7-6 lead on a 3-yard dash by Jake Spencer.

Fairbanks scored again on the final play of the first quarter when quarterback Stephen DeRoads hit Tyler Boerger with a 20-yard scoring strike to put the Panthers back on top at 12-7.

Waynesfield then went three-and-out but a high snap on the punt attempt gave Fairbanks the ball at the Waynesfield 1-yard line and the Panthers' Tyler Smith went in on the first play to push the Fairbanks lead to 19-12.

But the Tigers refused to quit and scored when quarterback Connor Mortimer hit Keaton Fetter with a 10-yard scoring pass midway through the second quarter. Waynesfield then grabbed the lead at 21-19 when Spencer went in from 6 yards out shortly before halftime.

Fetter scored again for the Tigers on a 26-yard run midway through the third period to put Waynesfield up 27-19 entering the final period of play.

Fairbanks then went 95 yards in 10 plays and pulled to within 27-25 on the first play of the fourth quarter when Smith went in from 1-yard out.

The Panthers recovered the ensuing on-side kick and went 50 yards on seven plays, taking the lead at 31-27 on Smith's fourth scoring run of the game midway through the final quarter.

Waynesfield got the ball two more times but couldn't move the ball and the Panthers held on to grab the league title.

"The kids played their hearts out," Waynesfield coach Gary Spencer said. "You can't win championships making the mistakes we made."

Fairbanks piled up 366 yards of total offense including 263 yards rushing on 45 attempts. The leading rusher for the Panthers was junior running back Ryan Repogle.

Waynesfield totaled 213 yards on the ground and were led by Jake Spencer with 84 yards in 20 rushing attempts.