Jake Harper scores game winner in Fairview playoff victory:

Harper rushes for 175 yards, 119 in the 2nd half to lead Fairview:

GDW Analysis:
FAIRVIEW: Jake Harper's rushing numbers for Fairview on October 30 against Good Hope were not up to what the star running back expects.
The senior gained 87 yards and was held out of the end zone. But Fairview got the victory by a 14 to 7 score to stay undefeated.
In Thursday's AHSAA 5A playoff game with Arab, Harper was sound in running the ball the 2nd half.
Harper amassed 119 yards in the final 24:00 and scored the game winner for the Aggies to enjoy a 14 to 7 decision and go into the Round of 16 from the North Region.

 On the first play of the 3rd, Harper romped for a 40 yard gain from the Fairview 15 to the Arab 45. That drive would end with Harper taking it over from the 3 as the Aggies broke a tie and managed to keep Arab away from the end zone in the final half.
Harper delivered 81 yards in the 3rd and added 38 from the 4th. The all time leading rusher for Fairview tallied 56 yards in the first half.
Another talented Fairview senior, Kolt Redding, did it from both sides of the ball.
Redding picked off a pass in the end zone that stopped Arab's first drive of the night.
He would ignite the Aggies on an 80 yard TD drive and got the score on a 30 yards pass to Jace Stephens in the first quarter.
Fairview would stay ahead by a touchdown until a poor punt from the Aggies in the 2nd put Arab in good field position at its 35.
The Arabian Knights drove downfield and tied the score on a 47 yard scoring pass from sophomore QB Nic Stephens.
When the half ended, Arab was in an upset mode in tying undefeated Fairview 7 to 7.
The Aggies moved back in front with the first drive in the 3rd quarter.
Arab would try to go deep into Fairview territory but failed twice on possessions.
The Knights were a yard shy of a first down and gave up the ball to the Aggies at the Fairview 48 with 1:57 remaining.
Fairview could not run out the clock, having to punt as Arab took over at its 17 yard line with 40 seconds showing.
The final try for Arab ended when Stephens got intercepted by Redding near midfield. A 15 yard penalty on Arab allowed Fairview to take over at the Knights' 36 and go into victory formation.
Fairview finished the playoff game with 337 yards total offense, 194 coming in the 2nd half.
The Aggies ran for 257 yards with 175 coming by Harper, 29 from Redding and 53 by reserve runner Rex Chandler.
Redding would complete 5 of 9 for 70 yards and a TD to Stephens.
Arab was good in the first half with 176 yards offense, only 94 in the final half. The Knights managed 104 passing with Stephens throwing for a TD, but 2 interceptions that were huge at the time the picks took place.
Fairview is now 11 & 0 and will play at home next Friday vs. the winner of the Ramsay/Jacksonville game.
Arab's season ends with 4 wins & 7 losses. The Knights lost their last 4 games.

Photo of Fairview captains Jace Stephens (21), Zayden Cruce (16), Connor Scott (5) and Kolt Redding in pregame vs. Good Hope on October 30.
Photo courtesy of Soulmate Snaps.