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Fairfield hopes for playoff berth as YAIAA's smallest


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This year might be Fairfield's best chance to reach the district playoffs in several years, and it really has nothing to do with the players on the team.

This year's team will be young, with just five seniors and five juniors, but a .500 season could be good enough for a playoff spot.

The Green Knights are one of just five District 3 schools placed in Class 1A, and the top two will qualify for the playoffs. The Knights are the only Class 1A team in the YAIAA.

“It’s motivation," offensive lineman/linebacker Alex Godard said. "We’ve always kind of been that underdog team, surrounded by these bigger schools."

Fairfield hasn't made the playoffs since a 5-5 season in 2013.

Offense

Quarterbacks: Junior Darian Mort set a school record last year by throwing for 1,548 yards last season, the third-most in the league.

Running backs: Teammates and coaches are excited for the return of 185-pound sophomore Charlie Burnett, who started a few games as a freshman before sustaining a head injury.

Receivers: The Green Knights will spread out four-wide a lot, and they have a good balance of receivers with Jacob Irwin, Trystan Griffith, Daniel Miller and Jordan Angerett.

Offensive line: Godard, Logan Counceller, Jake “Bubba” Nicholls and John Macharsky return on an experienced line.

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Defense

Defensive line: On such a small team, almost every player plays three ways. Offensive linemen Counceller, Nicholls and Macharsky all return on the defensive line.

Linebackers: Godard anchors the inside of this unit, along with Dylan Cree and Ethan Favorite. Angerett and Irwin will start on the outside.

Secondary: Mort, Burnett and Griffith key the defensive backfield.

Special teams

Mort, the team's do-it-all athlete, will punt, kickoff and kick extra points.

• • • 

Save the date

The Green Knights start divisional play Sept. 23 at home against Biglerville. A couple years ago, Fairfield pulled off a dramatic 20-19 win between these neighboring rivals. The teams headed in different directions last year, but this year could be an opportunity to renew the rivalry and get a good start in divisional play.

Bottom line

If the Knights can stay healthy and get back to playing .500 football, that may be good enough for a playoff berth.

In the huddle

Head coach: Darwin Seiler (13-28 in four seasons)
Assistant coaches: Ken Brown, Dennis Dowd, Dan Irwin, Joe Macharsky, Chris Petrie
Class: 1A
Enrollment: 276 (129)
Offense: Spread
Defense: 5-2

2016 schedule 

Sept. 2 — Fairfield at Saint Joseph's Catholic Academy, 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 — Fairfield at James Buchanan, 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 — Smithsburg at Fairfield, 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 — Biglerville at Fairfield, 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 — Fairfield at Bermudian Springs, 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 — Hanover at Fairfield, 7 p.m.
Oct. 14* — York County Tech at Fairfield, 7 p.m.
Oct. 21 — Fairfield at Delone Catholic, 7 p.m.
Oct. 28 — York Catholic at Fairfield, 7 p.m.
Nov. 4 — Fairfield at Littlestown, 7 p.m.
*homecoming

2015 results 

L // Newport // 0-42
W // James Buchanan // 34-6
L // @ Silver Oak Academy (Md.) // 7-47
L // @ Biglerville // 0-47
L // Bermudian Springs // 12-42
L // @ Hanover // 14-53
L // @ York County Tech // 14-30
L // Delone Catholic // 28-51
L // @ York Catholic // 14-59
L // Littlestown // 36-72