Lucas Vance
Staff Writer
WINNSBORO — The Fairfield Central Griffins football team is preparing for its annual spring game which will be held this Friday.
Last season Fairfield Central was 11-3 overall and was crowned region III-AA champs before falling 21-6 in the state championship game to Dillon High School.
The spring game will give fans a chance to get their first look at the 2013 Griffins and head coach Demetrius Davis believes this is the time for his football team to finely tune its skills.
“We’re just trying to get a little better all around,” Davis said. “Execution is our number one goal for this spring.”
The biggest personnel losses for Fairfield Central will be on defensive line and at linebacker. Out of that front seven, there are just two starters returning in Chanti Jones (DL) and Larry J. Bell (LB). Despite the losses upfront the Griffins do return all four of their defensive backs.
On the offensive side of the ball the key cog was quarterback Deandre Belton, who is back for his senior season. The dual threat quarterback was able to beat defenses with arm and his feet last year but Davis hopes Belton can sharpen his skills even more in the aerial attack for 2013.
“This spring we’re going to focus on his passing game,” Davis noted. “A lot of people didn’t get a chance to see how well he actually can throw because we ran him so much. But this year we’re going to develop his passing game.”
With a state finals appearance under their belt and Davis entering his third year at the helm, the Griffins are a favorite to win the upstate. Davis has faith that Fairfield Central’s loss in the state championship game will be a source of motivation this season.
“I think that experience will make us a better football team,” Davis stated. “When you get to that point and you don’t win it all, it just makes you work that much harder.”
The Griffins spring game will be held Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Fairfield Central’s E.K. Mclendon stadium. The game is free and open to the public.

















