SARDIS — In a game that saw 10 lead changes, 99 points and over 1,000 yards of total offense, Fairview came out on top, clinching a playoff spot in the process.

The Aggies (6-2, 3-2 in Class 4, Region 6) defeated Sardis (6-2, 5-1) by a final of 55-44 in an offensive slugfest. The win officially secured a spot in the playoffs for the the Purple and Gold.

"Lot of points scored tonight," Fairview coach George Redding said. "However, we made some really key stops at some really key times. That was the difference in the ball game."

Although the Aggies have secured their spot, they are looking for more. A win over Crossville next week, combined with a Sardis loss against top-ranked Oneonta, would net Fairview a first-round game at home.

"We need to show up next week and take care of business," the coach said. " Everybody wants it."

The game started out in the fury, as both teams took to the field guns-a-blazing.

The Aggies got on the board first after a Justin Bryan interception gave them the ball in Sardis territory. Three plays later, Fairview went up 8-0 on a 4-yard touchdown run by senior Marco Rodriguez.

Sardis answered with a lengthy drive of its own, culminated by a 34-yard touchdown run by Toby Pee.

The scoring did not slow there as each team scored on its next three possessions.

Fairview scored its next touchdown on a 15-yard run by Dexton Gregory. However, their lead was brief as the Lions answered right back with a 7-yard touchdown run by Pee.

From there, it was the Luke Bailey show.

The senior signal-caller threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Gregory on the first play of the second quarter. He followed that with a 22-yard touchdown run on the next drive.

Unfortunately for the Aggies, they couldn't slow down Pee, who added two more scores in the second quarter, as they trailed 30-29 going into the half.

The Lions' ball carrier finished with 219 yards on 13 first-half carries, scoring four touchdowns.

The game turned for the Aggies on the first play of the second half.

Sardis was driving the ball on its first possession and had gotten it down to the 2-yard line before the Aggies recovered a Pee fumble, halting the drive.

"We made some defensive adjustments at the half," Redding said. "We were able to get to No. 5 before he hit the hole and that was big for us.

The adjustments worked as Pee had only 74 yards in the second half.

Riding the momentum created by his defense, Bailey needed just four plays to find wideout Bryant Powers in the end zone for a 43-yard score, making it a 35-30 game.

The Lions roared back with a 50-yard touchdown pass of their own, giving them a one-point lead.

It would be the last one they would get as Fairview used an 8-yard touchdown run by Rodriguez and a defensive stand to preserve the lead for good. Bailey added a 49-yard touchdown pass to Bailey Strong and a 7-yard touchdown run late to put the icing on the cake.

"Luke, he's a competitor," Redding said. "I thought he played outstanding and managed the game really well for us."

The senior quarterback finished with 262 yards in the air, completing 14-of-27 attempts to go along with three touchdowns. The dual-threat athlete added 132 rushing yards on 19 carries and another two scores.

"I was just playing," Bailey said. "That's what coach told me to do and that's what I did."

Bailey said it's now up to the team as to how its season goes from here on out.

"We need to keep rolling next week," he said. "We can control our destiny the rest of the way."

Other key contributors for the Aggies included tailback Marco Rodriguez, who finished with 46 yards and two scores. Gregory needed only two carries to net 64 yards and a score.

Ethan Widner led the receiving corps with 74 yards on four grabs. Powers, Strong and Gregory each caught a touchdown pass as well.

Coming off a disappointing loss last week against Oneonta, Redding said he preached endurance in this past week's practices.

"We came up big tonight and battled adversity," Redding said. "We had the perfect opportunity to come out here tonight and put last week behind us. I think the kids did a great job of responding.”

% Jake Winfrey can be reached at 256-34-2131, ext. 258 or at jwinfrey@cullmantimes.com.