That's A Big 10-4 Cardinals

FARMINGTON SPOILS ALMA HOMECOMING 31-25

FARMINGTON -- In the 10th month on the fourth day Farmington notched its first victory over Alma since joining the 5A West by a 31-25 margin to spoil Alma's Homecoming Friday.

In CB language -- that's a "Big 10-4," Cardinals.

The Airedales fell to 0-5, 0-2 5A West with Farmington coach Mike Adams getting his first win over one of his former players from Charleston, Alma head coach Doug Loughridge.

The issue wasn't settled until the Cardinals successfully defended four straight incompletions by Alma inside Farmington's 10-yard-line hushing the home crowd at Citizens Bank Field and sending fans of the Cardinals (5-0, 2-0 5A West) into a celebration.

Alma scored with Jacob Coursey catching a 7 -yard pass from Landon Blair to pull within a touchdown and extra-point of taking the lead with 3:18 left because Farmington foiled a third Airedale 2-point conversion passing attempt when Josiah Ingraham deflected Blair's throw.

Josh Stettmeier leaped to snare Alma's onside kick giving Farmington first-and-10 from midfield. The Cardinal offense went in reverse losing 12 yards on two running plays. Alma expended its second time-out of the half with the Cardinals facing third-and-22 from their own 38. Quarterback Marqwaveon Watson regained all of the lost yardage setting up Jaden Schrader's punt which rolled dead at the Airedale 3 with 2:04 remaining.

The Cardinal defense dogged Alma on the last drive although the Airedales moved the ball 90 yards in 13 plays in 1:12. DeCory Thomas and Colton Kilgore defended the first two passes and after the Airedales picked up a pair of first downs, Caden Elsik sacked Blair, forcing Alma to burn its final time-out.

Blair hit Grayson Bailey for 15 yards to make fourth down manageable then found Coursey on a throw across the grain which went for 56 yards before the Cardinals knocked him down at their 8.

Stettmeier got in Blair's face causing an incompletion on first-and-goal, then Terrion Swift disrupted the next two passes with hard rushes to the Alma quarterback. The Airedales tried to set up a screen left on third down but Stettmeier nearly intercepted the ball. Blair was pressured on fourth down and overthrew a receiver open in the end zone.

Farmington ran out the clock.

Alma scored quickly using three plays to reach the end zone on a 72-yard drive to start the game. Blair, a 6-1, 240-pound senior ran in from three yards out and Aryn Wilkinson kicked Alma's only successful PAT of the night to give the Airedales a 7-0 lead, a mere 48 seconds into the game.

Special teams played a significant role in the Cardinal victory. Drew Sturgeon returned a sky kick out to the 42, positioning Farmington for a 7-play, 58-yard drive to tie the game on Watson's 30-yard touchdown pass. Sturgeon kicked a 27-yard field goal to push Farmington ahead, 10-7, which was the score at the end of the first quarter.

Alma regained the lead just before halftime on Blair's 2-yard quarterback sneak, but couldn't convert and settled for a 13-10 halftime lead.

Farmington erased the deficit by scoring on it's first two possessions of the third period. Schrader scored on a 1-yard run and Watson did the same on a 4-yard carry. Farmington led 24-13 after three quarters of play.

Conner Stacy caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Blair, but six points was all Alma got when a 2-point pass failed, leaving them trailing 24-19 with 10:12 left in the contest.

Watson returned the kickoff 35 yards before he was shoved out-of-bounds at the Alma 29 and Farmington once more capitalized on a short field. Watson connected with Tate Pickens to complete a 17-yard touchdown play. Farmington's 31-19 lead with 8:46 to play exerted pressure on the Airedales, who weren't able to overtake the visitors and suffered a 31-25 Homecoming defeat despite the drama which played out from Farmington's 8 as the fourth quarter wore down.

Farmington visits Greenbrier Friday looking to go 6-0 on the season.

FARMINGTON 31, ALMA 25

Farmington^10^0^14^7^--^31

Alma^7^6^0^12^--^25

First Quarter

Alma -- Landon Blair 3-yard run (Aryn Wilkinson kick), 11:12.

Farmington -- Drew Sturgeon 30-yard pass from Marqwaveon Watson (Drew Sturgeon kick) 8:46.

Farmington -- Drew Sturgeon 27-yard field goal, 1:20.

Second Quarter

Alma -- Landon Blair 2-yard run (pass failed), 0:07.

Third Quarter

Farmington -- Jaden Schader 1 run (Drew Sturgeon kick) 7:00.

Farmington -- Marqwaveon Watson 4-yard run (Drew Sturgeon kick) 0:42.

Fourth Quarter

Alma -- Conner Stacy 15-yard pass from Landon Blair (pass failed), 10:12.

Farmington -- Tate Pickens 17-yard pass from Marqwaveon Watson (Drew Sturgeon kick), 8:46.

Alma -- Jacob Coursey 7 -yard pass from Landon Blair (pass failed), 3:18.

TEAM STATISTICS

Farmington^Alma

Total plays^63^71

First downs^17^19

Total offense^295^469

Rushes-yards^38-185^33-177

Passing yards^110^292

Rush average^4.9^5.4

Comp-Att-Yds^TD^Int^9-14-110-2-0^17-29-292-2-0

Punts-Avg.^2-42.0^2-20.0

Penalties-Yds^12-73^9-73

Third-down conversion^6-10^5-12

Fourth-down conversion^0-0^3-5

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- Farmington, Marqwaveon Watson 11-75, Jaden Schrader 11-50, Caden Elsik 14-41, Josh Stettmeier 1-16, Drew Sturgeon 1-3. Totals 38-185. Alma, Ben Henley 12-70.

PASSING -- Farmington, Marqwaveon Watson 9-14-110-2-0. Alma, Landon Blair 17-29-292-2-0.

RECEIVING -- Farmington, Drew Sturgeon 7-83, Tate Pickens 1-17, Collin Hummell 1-10. Totals 9-110.

Sports on 10/09/2019