Font Resize
Fairfield approached its game at Hanover on Friday as if it carried a 0-0 record instead of 0-5. And from the very start, its fortunes began to turn.
The Green Knights recovered a fumble on the home team's initial play from scrimmage and went on to score its first victory of the season, 23-6.
After a holding penalty pushed Fairfield to the Hanover 18, Derek Smith took the ball to the end zone, putting the Knights on top 7-0 -- and the rout was on.
It was an important takeaway and momentum-swinging score for the Green Knights (1-5, 1-2 YAIAA III) .
"If you check our stats, we've only had one takeaway all year," Fairfield coach Mike Quealy said. "Having that takeaway early, after always having that shoe on the other foot, we got a lucky break and capitalized on it."
The Green Knights' defense took over from there, limiting Hanover's big threat -- Josh Livelsberger -- to just four yards rushing. He had 311 coming into the game.
"We threw a lot of pressure at him," Quealy said. "We were very worried about that kid. We were worried about his legs.
"Our ends did a nice job being disciplined and kept him contained and the backers did their job."
All game, the Nighthawks (1-5, 0-2) had trouble with the quarterback-center exchange, but only lost the one fumble. It did limit them on the ground, though, to just 59 yards.
"We weren't catching the ball tonight," Hanover coach Jason Potts said. "We had a bad pass and it was the center's fault,
Neither offense moved the ball well, combining for just 247 total yards. Smith was Fairfield's leading rusher with 37 yards.
After falling behind, Hanover went for a first down on a fourth-and-3 play, but didn't get it, turning the ball over to the Green Knights.
Cody Kuykendall took the ball eight plays later and scored a 12-yard touchdown. A missed extra point put Fairfield up, 13-0.
Down by two scores, Livelsberger hit Josh Smalls for a 5-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 13-6. Jordon Collins had the big play for the Nighthawks, running 37 yards to the Fairfield 11.
Cody Johnson added a 33-yard field goal for Fairfield in the third quarter, making it 16-6.
A failed fourth-down conversion in the fourth quarter led to Fairfield's final touchdown.
The Green Knights started on their own 40 and went eight plays before Travis Stambaugh scored on a 9-yard run.
"We're just playing for the second half of the year," Quealy said. "In our eyes, we're 1-0."
Fairfield 13 0 3 7 -- 23
Hanover 6 0 0 0 -- 6
First Quarter
F -- Derek Smith 18 run (Cody Johnson kick)
F -- Cody Kuykendall 12 run (Johnson kick)
Han -- Josh Small 5 pass from Josh Livelsberger (Ian Wheeler kick failed)
Third Quarter
F -- Johnson 33 FG
Fourth Quarter
F -- Travis Stambaugh 9 run (Johnson kick)
-- F -- Han
First downs -- 11 -- 4
Rushes-yards -- 41-124 -- 31-59
Passing -- 3-8-0 -- 3-7-0
Passing yards -- 53 -- 11
Total yards -- 177 -- 70
Punts -- 4-30.8 -- 4-26.8
Fumbles-lost -- 0-0 -- 2-1
Penalties-yards -- 2-20 -- 3-20
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing -- F, Smith 12-37, Stambaugh 7-36, Kuykendall 13-26, Andrew Potts 8-22, Craig Colopy 1-3; Han, Jordan Collins 2-36, Peyton Caler 5-18, Wes Reichart 2-10, Livelsberger 18-4, Jake Goodfellow 3-0, Chris Joseph 1- (-9).
Passing -- F, Potts 3-8-0-53; Han, Livelsberger 3-7-0-11.
Receiving -- F, Stambaugh 2-28, Kuykendall 1-25; Han, Goodfellow 1-6, Small 1-5, Reichart 1-0.
