FAIRVIEW – Harpeth hung with Fairview for one quarter, but then turnovers and penalties cost the Indians in a 56-11 loss to Fairview in the battle for Region 6-3A Friday.
Dylan Capps of Harpeth High School scrambles away from Fairview High School players in the second half. Fairview won the game 56-11 to go to 10-0 on the season.
Undefeated Fairview (10-0, 6-0) won Region 6-3A by defeating second-place Harpeth (8-2, 4-2).
Here are five takeaways to the game:
Great opening drive
The Indians the opening kickoff and drove 67 yards in just five plays to score on their first possession.
It was a big play that got them in the end zone. Quarterback Walker Weatherly dropped back to throw, scrambled out of trouble, and threw it deep to Drake Fullum. Fullum hauled it in and outran the Fairview secondary to the end zone for a 63-yard scoring play.
After the kickoff, Harpeth’s defense forced Fairview into a rare three-and-out on its first possession on offense. The Yellow Jackets were forced to punt after failing to pick up a first down.
But after the Indians punted it back to them, the Yellow Jackets only needed one play on their next possession to tie it. Hunter Caldwell went 74 yards for a touchdown run and tied the game.
The Harpeth High School Indians prepare to take the field for their away game against the Fairview High School Yellow Jackets Friday Oct, 28.
Mistakes costly
After Fairview tied the game, the Indians drove back downfield and were inside the Fairview 20. But Weatherly’s pass into the end zone was tipped and intercepted by Fairview’s Blake Russell.
It was the first of three interceptions that Fairview had, and all ended drives.
Harpeth also had six penalties for 40 yards, many of them false starts which moved them back on offense as they were driving on Fairview.
“We made some mistakes early that are not like us,” Harpeth coach Doug Loope said. “Maybe the significance of a region championship might have burdened the kids a little bit more than it should have. They didn’t react well to the pressure.”
Harpeth coach Doug Loope watches his team warm up before their game against Fairview High School.
Weatherly on target
Other than the interceptions – two of which were tipped by defenders – Weatherly completed 10 of 20 passes and had 219 yards. The deep pass worked well for Harpeth. Six of Weatherly’s completions were for 15 or more yards.
Weatherly went down with a shoulder injury after being tackled in the third quarter. He went out for one play, came back in to complete one pass and pick up a first down, then exited the game for the remainder to ensure that he wasn’t further injured.
“He’s a good quarterback, we just need to keep him healthy,” Loope said.
Fairview run game hard to stop
The Indians struggled all game to stop the tandem of Hunter Caldwell (184 yards, two touchdowns) and Jake Beathard (179 yards, two touchdowns).
Playoff bound
Harpeth finished as the third seed from Region 6-3A after Cheatham County forfeited its Week 11 win over East Hickman for playing an ineligible player. Harpeth plays at Goodpasture at 7 p.m. Friday in the opening round of the TSSAA Class AAA playoffs.