FAIRBORN — Fairborn High School’s new Skyhawk Stadium lived up to the hype and so did the Skyhawks’ high-octane running game.

Fairborn — playing its first game in the new stadium featuring turf, a state-of-the art scoreboard, and improved lighting — shredded the West Carrollton defense for 324 yards, 144 coming from junior Zyaire Cavitt, in a 42-6 win Friday. Senior Cameron Faircloth added 64 yards and two scores, while sophomore Caden Blakely added 50 yards and one score.

The Skyhawks started quickly, scoring on the game’s second play as Blakely took a hand off, sped to the outside, and scampered 48 yards for a touchdown.

But that was all Fairborn (2-1, 1-1 Miami Valley League) could do until late in the second quarter as the Pirates, who had yet to score or keep an opponent from scoring, played extremely hard.

However, the Skyhawks scored twice in the final minutes, using a little bit of trickery.

Cavitt scored on a one-yard run with 1:58 left and then a bloop kickoff by Fairborn caught West Carrollton by surprise when junior Corbin McCoy-Bush grabbed the loose ball on the West Carrollton 33.

Six plays later, Faircloth scored on a two-yard run to open a 21-0 halftime lead.

Cavitt scored on a 22-yard run midway through the third quarter to open a 28-0 lead and then the Pirates scored on a 25-yard pass from halfback Jason Fuller to tight end Cylan Ingram. The point after missed.

Cavitt scored on a 44-yard run with 59 seconds left in the third and then an interception by junior defensive back Andrew Wilson on the Pirates’ next play led to a two-yard TD run by Faircloth with 7:10 left in the fourth to end the scoring.

Senior Aiden Davis had a nifty 25-yard run on that drive to set up Faircloth’ score.

Coach Larry Cox credited tackles Ben Hartman, a senior, and Ashton White, a sophomore for creating space for the running backs but quickly added that senior center Jayden Hall, junior guard Ari Hall, and sophomore guard Kyle Lemons were also instrumental in the run game’s success.

Sophomore quarterback Wes Rohler attempted just six passes, with completions to senior Tameron Whitely (18 yards) and junior Brayden Johnson (17 yards).

The Fairborn defense limited West Carrollton (0-3, 0-2) to 144 total yards, 49 on the Pirates’ only scoring drive.

Junior linebacker Almari Byrd led Fairborn with seven tackles, five solo, while McCoy-Bush had five tackles, two solo.

Read Tuesday’s Daily Herald for a complete wrap-up including comments from Cox.

Contact Scott Halasz at 937-502-4507.