Syrupmakers host Richmond Academy Friday in round one of state playoffs

The Cairo Syrupmakers (10-0) have completed their fifth perfect regular season in school history and their 13th region championship. They are now set to host the Richmond Academy Musketeers (7-3) this Friday night in round one of the state AAA playoffs. Coach Tom Fallaw and his staff have won four of the 13 region championships and recorded two of the five perfect regular seasons since Fallaw took the head coaching job in 2003.
The Musketeers defeated Hephzibah Friday night 35-6 while the Makers beat Americus-Sumter 42-7.  Cairo is the region champion and seeded number one in region 1-AAA, while the Musketeers finished third in region 3-AAA.
“Richmond Academy is a big team. They have very good skill players and have scored a lot of points this season,” said coach Tom Fallaw. The Musketeers are averaging 27 points a game have given up 14 points a game with two shutouts. Richmond Academy’s three losses came to AAAA Evans, 9-5, Washington County 39-12 and Thomson 28-7.
The Musketeers, who were in AAAA last year, lost to Thomas County Central in the first round of the AAAA playoff last year. Richmond Academy returns 14 players from that team. Drek Reid is their senior quarterback, and other top players include senior strong safety Keaston Jones, and a 6’6” 270-lb. sophomore offensive lineman, Will Jones.
“Our goals each year are to beat our rivals, win the region, secure home field playoff games and, hopefully, win the state championship. Each week gets tougher now, and what we’ve done in the past doesn’t matter, it’s game to game,” said coach Fallaw.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. this Friday night at West Thomas Stadium. All tickets are $8 and on sale now at Cairo High School. Season ticket holders should use their ticket stubs to claim their regular season seats.