HUNTINGTON -- The Fayetteville Guard got off to a good start under new coach Charles Gunnings.
For the Huntington Heroes, it was a tough start as they took the field for the first time following a week of controversy.
"Bittersweet," Gunnings said after the Guard defeated the Heroes, 34-26, in an American Indoor Football League game in front of an estimated 365 fans Saturday night at Big Sandy Superstore Arena. "Both teams played with a lot of heart. It takes a lot of sacrifice. I'm not the savior.
Gunnings, former Guard head coach, started the season as defensive coordinator for the Heroes. He left the team last week and took over as Fayetteville coach on Sunday and four former Huntington players joined him. The Heroes, hampered by financial problems, had some player turnover following the team's failure to board the bus for a game at Florence, S.C., last week. Teddy Keaton, then the head coach, resigned and assistant Carlos Clayton took over.
Clayton scrambled to fill major voids on the line and with just one practice saw the Heroes battle down to the end. Guard defensive back DeLeon Raynor, who began the season with Huntington and went with Gunnings to North Carolina, picked off a pass in the end zone late in the fourth period to help seal the win.
"I miss it. I saw a lot of old faces," Raynor said. "It was pretty tough. I was here two weeks ago. Now I pick off a pass at the end. It'll be one of my best highlights ever."
Guard quarterback Jasun Thompson completed 16 of 26 passes for 177 yards and two scores. An 8-yarder to Jamie Deese late in the third period put Fayetteville ahead for good, 27-23. The Guard (2-4) are home next Saturday against Augusta.
Clayton said he couldn't fault the effort his team put forth.
"We start the healing process," he said. "I can't fault anything anybody did. Up front it showed. It affected our play calling. I tried to protect him (quarterback Darnell Kennedy) as much as I could."
Kennedy hit 12 of 36 for 175 yards and one score, but had three picked off.
"Coach Clayton had a good scheme," said Gunnings, who chatted with fans during and after the game. "I'm glad this game's behind me. It was mentally draining. Give credit to the team. We had a lot of minor breakdowns. In time we'll jell."
"We got thrown into the fire," Clayton said. "We start a new week Monday. We'll be a whole lot better."
The Heroes travel to Erie next Friday.
Heroes linebacker Michael "Kool-Aid" Owens saluted the effort by his teammates.
"We press on," he said. "One day of practice and to do what we did is awesome. There was a lot of talking going on. This shows we can still play."
FAYETTEVILLE 10 7 10 7 -- 34
HUNTINGTON 4 11 8 3 -- 26
F -- Aviett 24 FG
F -- Perry 3 run (Aviett kick)
H -- Cherry 23 FG
H -- Cherry uno
F -- Thompson 3 run (Aviett kick)
H -- Cherry 12 FG
H -- Cherry uno
H -- Kennedy 4 run (Cherry kick)
H -- Rollins 6 pass from Kennedy (Cherry kick)
H -- Cherry uno
F -- Aviett 41 FG
F -- Deese 8 pass from Thompson (Aviett kick)
H -- Cherry 18 FG
F -- Deese 26 pass from Thompson (kick failed)
F -- Aviett uno
Fay Hunt
First downs 15 11
Rushes-yards 15-26 5-12
Passing yards 177 163
Total yards 203 175
Passes 16-26-0 12-36-3
Fumbles-lost 1-1 0-0
Penalties-yards 6-78 1-5
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing -- Fayetteville, Perry 9-14, Henderson 2-12. Huntington, Kennedy 3-10, Rollins 2-2.
Passing -- Fayetteville, Thompson, 16-26-0, 177 yards, 2 TD. Huntington, Kennedy, 12-36-3, 175 yards, 1 TD.
Receiving -- Fayetteville, Deese 8-105, 2 TD; Ford 5-40, Jackson 2-17, Perry 1-15. Huntington, Frederick 3-60, Bryant 3-39, Rollins 3-25, Davis 2-37, Kennedy 1-14.
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