FYFFE — The Fyffe Red Devils lit up Paul Benefield Stadium on Friday night, bouncing back in a big way with a 60-28 win over Pisgah.
In a packed house and against a familiar foe, Fyffe found its rhythm behind a dominant rushing performance from Ryder Gipson, who led the way with seven touchdowns on the night.
In a battle that featured big plays and momentum shifts, both teams traded scores in a high-octane first half before Fyffe pulled away after the break behind Gipson’s unstoppable ground game.
Pisgah struck first on a short 1-yard run, but Fyffe quickly answered with back-to-back touchdowns to take a 14-6 lead. The Eagles tied the game at 14 with a touchdown reception by Cape Duncan and a successful two-point conversion.
The second quarter continued with fireworks on both sides. Following a fumble recovery by Pisgah’s Jager Gilberts, the Eagles took the lead 20-14 on a Cutter Mays touchdown pass to Landon Watkins.
But Fyffe responded with a 46-yard sprint to the end zone by Gipson, reclaiming the lead 21-20. Another touchdown by Gipson extended the Red Devils’ lead to 29-20, only to see Pisgah narrow the gap again just before halftime.
At the break, Fyffe held a narrow 29-28 edge.
The second half belonged to Gipson and the Red Devils. The junior running back erupted in the third quarter with touchdown runs of 59, 46, and 52 yards, giving Fyffe a commanding 53-28 lead heading into the final frame.
Gipson capped his historic night with a seventh touchdown in the fourth quarter, finishing with a jaw-dropping 370 rushing yards on just 19 carries.
Following a first down inside the 10-yard line, Fyffe’s Maddox Doss broke free for the Red Devils’ final touchdown of the night. Doss then added the extra point himself, extending the lead to 60-28 with 11:13 left in the fourth quarter.
Pisgah’s Mays had a strong showing of his own, completing 26 of 36 passes for 255 yards and three touchdowns, but the Eagles couldn’t keep pace after halftime.
Fyffe (1-1) now turns its attention to regional play. On Friday, Sept. 5, they host Collinsville (1-0) at Paul Benefield Stadium in a highly anticipated county rivalry matchup.
Ryder Gipson outruns a wave of Pisgah defenders, sprinting toward the end zone for a second-half score in Fyffe’s dominant home victory. Photo by CINTHIA RICO l Mountain Valley News
