DEVILS SUFFER BLACK EYE

CHAFFEE -- The Chaffee football team found out in Friday's 47-6 loss to the Fulton County (Ky.) Pilots when things are going bad even a good play can have a negative consequence.

On the Red Devils only score -- an 82-yard kickoff return by freshman Benji Boinett to start the second half -- the Red Devils lost leading rusher Tommy Stidham for the rest of the game with an injury to his right eye.

The extent of the injury was not known after the game, but Stidham was unable to open the eye which had swelled shut. Stidham is the third member of the Red Devil backfield to go down this year with an injury, joining fullbacks Darren Lincoln (Game 1) and Nick Swinford (Game 2) on the sidelines.

The loss dropped Chaffee to 0-3. Fulton County improved to 3-1.

Before the game, Chaffee coach Brian Horrell was hoping to make it through the game without any major injuries. Horrell, usually upbeat about his team's performance despite the Red Devils 21-game losing streak, was upset with his team's fundamental play.

"Most disappointing thing to me was we didn't play fundamental football at all," Horrell said. "We talked about that before the game and, let's face it, we were overmatched tonight. But I'm still disappointed we didn't do the fundamentals."

No doubt Chaffee had its hands full with the Pilots, who had the speed and size to blow through the Red Devil defense without the missed tackles. Fulton County outgained the Red Devils 499-89.

Fulton County wasted little time getting on the board, scoring on its first two possessions with big plays. The drives consisted of three and two plays, respectively

Trailing 12-0 in the first quarter, Chaffee quarterback Matt Graham connected with Jamey Dumey for a 34-yard completion. But on the next play, Fulton County linebacker Prentice Terrell stepped in front of a quick pass over the middle for a 72-yard interception return to make the score 19-0.

Unable to move the ball on the ground, Chaffee was forced to throw the ball 24 times. Graham competed 6-of-23 passes for 79 yards.

Fulton County opened up a 40-0 halftime advantage before the Red Devils fans had an opportunity to get excited. Boinett, picked up the second-half kickoff and raced down the Chaffee sideline for the Red Devils' only score of the game.

"That was a good spark for us coming out in the second half," Horrell said. "That kid's got a world of talent, we just have to get him squared away on his playbook. There's no doubt he's got the skills."

Boinett played the rest of the second half for the injured Stidham, leading the Red Devils on the ground with 16 yards on eight carries.

"This was, without a doubt, our most disappointing effort," said Horrell. "Tonight we took a giant step backwards. I'm not saying that because of the score, but because we did not execute the fundamentals.

"Fulton County is very full of talent and very deep with talent; you have to give them credit," he said. "But you cannot miss tackles."