By Thomas Grant Jr.
There was little time this week for Airport football to dwell on last week’s loss to ranked Midland Valley.
The Eagles are playing a day earlier in Week 8. The road contest against South Aiken is still important for the team’s hopes of still playing a first-round home game and clinching a winning season for the first time since 2019.
“We have a short week this week with the game on Thursday, so we have moved our kids on quickly mentally,” Airport head coach Shane Fidler said. “Regaining focus and health extra fast this week are vital with the short week and the fact they had a bye week last week to get ready for us.”
The Eagles (5-3, 1-1) are 3-1 on the road this season. If they are to clinch a playoff berth, the defense will have to slow down the Thoroughbreds’ offense led by quarterback Terrence Smith.
The standout senior leads his team in almost every important offensive category. A dual threat with his arm (1,104 passing yards, 10 TDs) and legs (675 yards, nine touchdowns), Smith’s only non-productive game took place in a Week 4 loss to ranked White Knoll.
“He is a great player, but he isn’t the only one they have,” Felder said. “The running back (Jevon Edwards) has done plenty of amazing things as well. Credit to their coaches for putting their great athletes with major D1 offers in position to make lots of plays and score points. They will be extremely tough to stop, but we know we will need to if we want to have a chance at winning the game.”
South Aiken (1-6, 0-1) is coming off a bye week. It lost 63-21 to North Augusta on Sept. 29. It marked the fourth time this season the Thoroughbreds have allowed 50 or more points.
In Airport’s three road games, it has allowed an average of seven points per game. The Eagles’ defense will look to regroup after giving up a season-high 56 points against Midland Valley.
Linebacker Bryant Cherry leads the team with 79 ½ tackles, followed by Trey Neil (68 tackles) and Brendon Powe (44 tackles).
“I know we will need another great performance from that group if we want to come out on top Thursday night,” Fidler said. “Coach Stoudemire and the defensive coaches I trust will have a great plan and I know our players are looking forward to the challenge of tackling another group of big time D1 recruits – seems we have had to try and do that a bunch lately.”
Offensively, quarterback Jesse Ray Hoover is closing in on 1,000 passing yards and leads the team with 10 touchdowns. Running back Amari Lewis leads the team with 405 rushing yards and five touchdowns and wide receiver Shiloh Perry has 42 receptions for 529 yards and five touchdowns.
Airport holds a 6-5 edge in the overall series but has dropped the last three meetings.
Photo by Velvet Maricle – Airport quarterback Jesse Ray Hoover
