From STAFF REPORTS
FYFFE — The Big Red Machine kept their season alive on Friday night as the Fyffe Red Devils ran through the Walter Wellborn Panthers for a 49-14 victory in the second round of the Class 2A playoffs. The victory for Fyffe would give head coach Paul Benefield his 379th career coaching victory which moves him one win away from tying Danny Horn’s 380 career coaching wins.
After forcing a punt on the Panther’s first offensive drive of the night, it took just one play for the Red Devils to claim a 7-0 lead as Hayden Parker would rush for a long 44-yard touchdown to put Fyffe ahead.
Walter Wellborn wouldn’t go away quietly as they responded with a 15-play scoring drive to tie it at 7 apiece.
Before the end of the first quarter, Fyffe would respond with their own scoring drive as Ian Patterson would rush for a 33-yard touchdown to put the Red Devils up 14-7.
After a big play of defense by Maddox Doss who would intercept a Walter Wellborn pass, the Red Devils would extend their lead as Patterson would rush in a 5-yard touchdown to put Fyffe up 21-7 over the Panthers.
The Panthers would again answer back on Fyffe as they would return the kickoff for a touchdown to cut Fyffe’s lead back to 21-14.
Midway through the second quarter, Fyffe would continue their dominance in the run game as Parker would rush for his second touchdown of the night from 1-yard out to give Fyffe a 28-14 lead.
After another defensive stop by the Red Devil’s, the Fyffe offense would put up one last touchdown before halftime as Patterson would score off a 19-yard touchdown to put the Red Devils up 35-14 at halftime.
With the momentum firmly on their side, the Red Devil’s continued to extend their lead as Doss would run in an 11-yard rushing touchdown to make it a 42-14 Fyffe lead.
The final blow would come in the fourth quarter as Parker would run in his third touchdown of the night to give Fyffe the 49-14 win over Walter Wellborn.
The Red Devils were led by the run game of Parker, Patterson, Doss and all-state running back Ryder Gibson. Gibson would surpass 1,000 rushing yards for the season in the win over the Panthers.
Fyffe will now look forward to a quarterfinal road matchup against the Gordo Green Wave next Friday.
Ian Patterson (1) goes on a big run to score Fyffe’s second touchdown in the first quarter of the Red Devils playoff matchup with Walter Wellborn. PATRICK GRAHAM l The Leader
