Preston Lewis is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Betty H. Fairfax for AZPreps365.com.

LAVEEN — The Betty H. Fairfax Stampede fell 21-14 to Central on senior night Friday, as the Bobcats continued their push for a region title with one week left in the regular season.

Fairfax took an early lead behind senior running back Torrance Viner, who broke free for a 20-yard touchdown with 4:06 remaining in the first quarter. The Stampede held a 6-0 advantage after the extra-point attempt was unsuccessful.

Viner was a workhorse on senior night, rushing for 163 yards and the early touchdown that knocked Central on their heels.

For Central coach Alejandro Sanchez, it’s about how the team responds.

“We’ve been challenged throughout the whole year,” Sanchez said. “Today was just a testament that if we get hit first, we gotta answer back.”

Central (4-5, 3-1) quickly changed the momentum on the first play of the second quarter when senior safety Dallas Carter recovered a Fairfax fumble and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown, giving the Bobcats a 7-6 lead.

Fairfax (3-6, 2-2) responded on its next possession. Junior quarterback Karmine Karim broke loose for a 41-yard run, then finished the drive with a 4-yard touchdown run. Senior wide receiver Jayden Varela then converted the two-point attempt, giving Fairfax a 14-7 lead with 8:27 remaining in the half.

With Fairfax unable to unlock the passing game, Karim finished the game with 90 rushing yards and a score.

Central answered with a creative play of its own late in the second quarter. The Bobcats faced fourth-and-inches near the goal line. Following a timeout, Central executed a trick play in which senior wide receiver Cam Allen took a lateral and threw a touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Isaiah Pierre with 1:14 remaining before halftime.

The extra point was blocked, leaving Fairfax with a narrow 14-13 lead at the break.

Neither team managed to score in the third quarter. Central threatened to take the lead on a drive into Fairfax territory, but a delay-of-game penalty pushed the Bobcats into a fourth-and-long situation, and they turned the ball over on downs.

Central later missed a 44-yard field goal, allowing Fairfax to maintain its one-point advantage entering the final quarter.

The defensive battle continued, but with 6:45 remaining in the game Central finally broke through.

Sophomore quarterback Jabari Parker found Pierre deep over the middle for a 76-yard touchdown pass, putting Central ahead 19-14. The Bobcats added a two-point conversion on another trick play, with Allen throwing to Parker to extend the lead to 21-14.

Pierre finished the night with 81 receiving yards to go along with two touchdowns. Parker, meanwhile, threw for 126 yards and a touchdown while chipping in 39 yards rushing.

The connection between Pierre and Parker proved vital to Central’s success.

“Even though I saw the routes weren’t open, I got right with my quarterback and we made them open ourselves,” Pierre said. “It makes me feel like I’m a very big piece of this team. I can do whatever I need to make this thing right.”

As the game was nearing its end, Fairfax still had opportunities to even the score. After a muffed punt gave Central possession near the Stampede's goal line, Fairfax senior defensive back Armahn Thomas Jr. intercepted Parker in the end zone to keep the deficit at seven.

Central's defense then forced a turnover on downs with 2:22 remaining, giving the Bobcats another chance to put the game away. But a blocked field goal by Fairfax briefly kept the Stampede's hopes alive.

With under two minutes remaining and no timeouts, Fairfax began the drive at their own 14-yard line.

A few plays later, a muffed snap was recovered by Central senior defensive end John Durant Jr. and the Bobcats were able to drain the clock from there.

The victory strengthened Central's position in the 5A Metro region race.

“Regional champs … that’s where we really want to go,” Pierre said.

For Fairfax, the loss was a difficult end to senior night.

“We were really confident coming into this game, and we just came up short,” Fairfax coach Ducy Burwell said. “I’ve grown and developed as a coach, and so I’m just happy I got to spend the night with the seniors.”

The Stampede will have one more opportunity to finish the season on a positive note when they visit South Mountain (4-5, 3-1) on Oct. 30 at 7 p.m.

Meanwhile, the Bobcats now turn their attention to Camelback (4-5, 4-0), who remain undefeated in region play, following a 53-27 victory over North on Friday night. Central will host Camelback on Oct. 29 at 7 p.m.