2026 Football Preview: Fairview Eagles

WESTWOOD, Ky. — The Fairview Eagles will have experience and depth.

Well, what you call depth at Fairview.

With a roster under 30 players, head coach Alex Roy is leaning on a veteran senior class to help the Eagles improve on last season’s 5-6 record.

“We do return a lot. We’ve got 13 seniors and we return basically our entire core. We lost two seniors starters, so we’re hoping for a fun year,” said Roy.

Although Roy made a reputation as a passer during his playing days, he is concentrating on the run game with this team which is something he has had plenty of experience both as a player and coach.

“I honestly didn’t start throwing the ball until I was a junior. I came from running the wing-T, the traditional T, and my first two years here I ran the double wing.

I didn’t get to showcase a lot until I was a junior,” said Roy.

“Would that be the main offense I would run now if I could? Yeah, but I think we have the right scheme fit that will help us be successful.”

A quintet of players could create a talented offense capable of putting a lot of points on the scoreboard.

“We have five guys who could potentially have a breakout game any night,” said Roy.

The top key players the Eagles will look toward for offensive production are senior running back Jace Murray (5-10, 185), senior running back Armani Burnside (5-9, 145), senior running back Jeffery Everetts (5-11, 195), sophomore running back Jayden Kaylor (6-2, 160) and sophomore quarterback Hunter Good (5-9, 165).

“Hunter and Jaylen were freshmen last year, but we’re going to up their load quite a bit this year,” said Roy.

“We put a lot on the running backs. We’ve got a big offensive line. I think they are good and they just have to want it, and they have to want it all the time. We’re going to try and make our living off the ground.”

Fairview starters with just a handful of linemen but have been able to add to the list of eligible players.

“We started with eight linemen and picked a few more and we got our numbers up to 10 and we’ll be able to rotate more and create more competition,” said Roy.

“The offensive line is starting to figure it out that if they don’t get the motor to go, then our offense is going to go and our team will sit there and fizzle out eventually.”

Up front the Eagles will turn to senior Rylan Hatfield (5-10, 220), senior Logan McCormick (6-4, 270) and junior Conlin Slavens (6-1, 265).

“Those are three of the linemen who return from last year’s team and will be the anchors,” said Roy.

Senior Landon Duncan (6-5, 265) did not play last season but returns this year and Roy said, “He’s a good size kid who’s going to anchor the line. We want to put him at center so he can be the catalyst.”

Roy said he wants to keep the offense a condensed bunch and he will look to senior De’Ron Jessie (6-3, 215) who was at Russell last season, and freshman Brycen Price (6-2, 210).

“We’ve got two pretty good tight ends with De’Ron Jessie and Brycen Price. Jessie is a really good athlete. If we split them out at any time, they’re obviously going to be a matchup nightmare,” said Roy.

Defensively, the Eagles will use a lot of the same personnel that’s on offense. However, Roy said there may be some changes.

“We’re doing something a little different this year. It’s going to look like a 5-2,” said Roy. “I don’t mess around with the defense much. I usually take care of the offense. We’ve gotten better each year. I think last year we ended up.

“We found a combination of six different linemen where we can go really heavy against some teams and just wear them down from just constant size and them being pushed. We got another group that gives quickness and effort and that’s all they want to do.”

Roy said a lot of teams safe Fairview throwing the ball a lot in the past.

On the defensive side, the Eagles secondary should be a strength.

“I really like our defensive backfield. We’ve got two good sophomores in Hunter Good and Jayden Kaylor. They’re going to be our safeties and they’re pretty good players. As they progress they’re going to be something to watch,” said Roy.

“We’ve got Jeffery Everetts and Armani Burnside at the corners. They’ve got the speed and they’ve got the size and they have the experience to cause some problems for wide receivers.”

Up front, the Eagles will use a lot of the same players who were on the offensive line with the exception of sophomore Brycen “The Dart” Clutters who will play at just 5-7, 130 pounds.

“He’s going to be a nightmare up front. He weighs 130 pounds at nose guard but he gets in the four-point stance and just wants to shoot. He’s all effort. You’re not going to beat him. If you run past him, he’s going to finish the play at the ball,” said Roy.

The linebackers will probably be Murray and sophomore Treyton Clutters (6-0, 170).

The special teams should be better with senior Jayden Miller (6-3, 165) who will be the punter and placekicker. Roy said, “we’re actually going to kick some field goals.”