Fairview quarterback Anders Hill (9) throws downfield during a 5A high school playoffs semifinal game between Fairview and ThunderRidge at Shea Stadium in Highlands Ranch. More photos. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)
HIGHLANDS RANCH — Fairview, you might have heard, has a high-powered offense. Record-setting, in fact. But these Knights make some plays on defense, too, and it was a game-changing interception which propelled Fairview to its first championship football game since 2002.
With his team clinging to a 24-21 lead in the third quarter and ThunderRidge on the 6-yard-line, Fairview junior Johnny Feauto jumped an out-route in the end zone and picked off a pass from ThunderRidge quarterback Brody Westmoreland. He returned it to the 24-yard-line. The Knights would march down and turn the turnover into a 31-21 lead on Owen Harris’ second 1-yard touchdown run of the game.
ThunderRidge never recovered, and top-seeded Fairview went on to win 38-28 in the Class 5A semifinals.
Fairview running back Jason Harvey (21) celebrates as he runs during the game. More photos. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)
“Whenever (ThunderRidge is) down there, they just run so much,” Feauto said after the game. “We knew that they were going to try to come out with something different. I saw him doing an out, I broke right on him, and the quarterback threw it right to me.”
After the interception, “I knew we were going to score,” Feauto said. “Our offense is just that good. If we give them any extra opportunities, they’re going to take it to the house.”
Feauto added another pick on a botched field-goal attempt midway through the fourth quarter. He has six this season.
Said Fairview coach Tom McCartney: “If you look at us versus Lakewood, Johnny Feauto had the big interception. If you look at Overland, Johnny Featuro had the big interception. Johnny’s been a big-time playmaker for us on D.”
Fairview will play No. 2 Valor Christian in the 5A championship next Saturday at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. Valor Christian beat Cherokee Trail in Saturday’s other semifinal.
And, despite the fact that Fairview is unbeaten (12-0) and the No. 1 seed in these playoffs, the Knights will likely again be seen as underdogs in that game. It makes sense: Valor Christian is a four-time defending champion, and has never lost in the playoffs in school history. The Eagles are also 47-1 against Colorado teams since Oct. 2010.
Still, Fairview is more than familiar with that position. Many around the state doubted the Knights would even reach the final.
Fairview linebacker Bobby Johnson (29) celebrates after defeating ThunderRidge. More photos. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)
“We felt like a lot of people didn’t think we were very good,” Fairview senior Cameron Frazier said on Saturday. “They still picked us to lose every game in the playoffs. So we used that as fuel. We just like to prove people wrong.”
Added quarterback Anders Hill: “We try not to pay attention to that, but it definitely gets under our skin sometimes. We’re the No. 1 seed and people are continuously picking us to lose. It’s motivation. I mean, we know what we’re capable of, so we just go out and play our game.”
“Every week,” Feauto said, “there were some doubters and they don’t think we’re going to win the next one. But we just have to keep proving them wrong, proving them wrong, proving them wrong. We think we’re the best and we’re going to go out and prove it next week.”
To reach that game next week, Fairview got an impressive performance from its offense against ThunderRidge on Saturday.
The Knights scored touchdowns on three of their first four possessions as Frazier went wild — he had 143 total yards and two total touchdowns in the first half — with the Grizzlies double-teaming senior wide receiver Sam Martin, who has set the state’s single-season record for receiving yards.
“Every week, teams try and double Sam. He’s the best receiver in the state. That opens up grass for other people,” Hill said. “Today, that just happened to be Cam. We have playmakers at pretty much every position on our offense, so I think it’s just a matter of who steps up for what game. And Cam did a great job today.”
Thunderridge offensive tackle Sam Jones (75) consoles his teammate after losing to Fairview. More photos. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)
Frazier finished with 152 yards receiving and two scores, and also had a rushing touchdown. This was all despite playing with a sprained thumb and microfractures in his right hand — an injury suffered last week.
“We can throw to pretty much anyone, and we have a lot of weapons besides Sam. And then we still have Sam. So that’s just a lot to deal with in the passing game,” Frazier said. “Then (Jason) Harvey running; Anders can run, too. It’s just too much for teams to take away.”
Fairview had 459 yards of total offense. Hill finished with 315 through the air on 21-of-33 passing, and the two scores to Frazier. Martin had 72 yards receiving.
For ThunderRidge, Westmoreland finished with 306 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions in his final game. Mark Hopper, a senior wide receiver, had 181 yards.
Fairview’s defense gave up 565 yards of total offense, but made plays when it needed to. That included Feauto’s two interceptions, as well as a fumble recovery by senior Connor Spencer with 9:49 to go in the game. Spencer also had a key one-on-one tackle of Westmoreland on third down which ended ThunderRidge’s next drive and led to the botched field goal attempt.
“They’re going to have a ton of yards throwing, running, whatever, but the turnovers were the difference,” McCartney said. “They’ve done it in every game this year that’s been a big game: games that we’ve trailed in, games that we’ve come back in. Every game, (the defense finds) a way to just basically get turnovers and turn things around.”
Fairview went to back-to-back 5A championship games in 2001 and 2002, but lost both times. Next Saturday will mark the program’s eighth trip to a title game. The Knights have won three championships, including a share of one with Westminster by tying in 1978. Their last championship was in 1987 (4A).
“We made this a goal since the summer,” Hill said. “It’s just a great experience, and I couldn’t be happier right now. Our whole team is just on top of the world right now.”
In fact, this title game has been on Fairview’s mind since this point last season. McCartney took a group of his kids to the 2012 5A title game to watch Valor and Cherokee Trail.
“We basically started dreaming there,” McCartney said. “And said, ‘Hey, we think we can get here, but it’s going to take some work and it’s going to take some seniors that believe.’ We’re very, very excited.”
Fairview linebacker Luke Miller (40) celebrates with fans after defeating ThunderRidge. More photos. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)