Game of the Week: Fairhope vs Davidson

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - We've reached the first round of the high school football playoffs, and this Game of the Week features two local teams.  The Fairhope Pirates (7-3) make their way into Ladd-Peebles Stadium to play the Davidson Warriors (8-1).

When Davidson head coach Fred Riley meant with his team for the last time in the 2011 season, he asked what was missing from a team who fell in the first round of the playoffs. 

One word resonated around the room from his players: leadership.

“We did not have great leaders last year," Riley said.  "We had great kids, but they didn’t lead very well, especially in the senior group.  This group took it upon itself to lead from day one all the way through, lead everyday at practice, lead off the field and in the locker room, and that leadership has paid off.”

Davidson's only loss this season came to McGill-Toolen by one point.  Not bad playing the number two team in the state.

“If we’re one play away from beating the number two team in the state, there’s no telling how far we could go," said Warriors quarterback Cam Jackson.  "I think we can play with anyone in the state.”

Jackson is ready to put it all on his shoulders.  One of only five starters on offense, the quarterback has accounted for 1,000 yards through the air and with his feet.

But Fairhope also boasts an elite offensive weapon, wide receiver Nate Andrews.
“It’s obvious that he’s a good playmaker and he’ll have the ball in his hands," said Fairhope head coach Adam Winegarden.

Jackson says you can only hope to contain a playmaker like Andrews.

“I think our defense can handle him, limit him, because you can’t really stop that guy," Jackson said.

For Jackson and Andrews both, this is their senior year, their last chance.  And neither is ready to go home.

“The last one is going to be emotional, my last go-around, and I just want to play hard, play for Fairhope," Andrews said.