FAIRLEA- Greenbrier East will wrap up its 2026 football season Friday night when they host the Independence Patriots at 7:30 p.m. for the Spartans’ Senior Night.
East has not had the season they had hoped for as they enter the finale at 1-8 after falling to Ripley, 56-14, last week, but believe it or not, the team has shown improvement in certain areas over the last few weeks.
The Spartans showed a spark on offense early against the Vikings as sophomore quarterback Sam Gabbert threw for 187 yards and two touchdowns. Junior Braylen Godfrey caught five passes for 112 yards and two scores, while freshman Peyton Ervin ran for a career-high 87 yards on 25 carries.
The Patriots, however, provide another huge challenge and bring a 6-2 record and a four-game winning streak to Fairlea.
Independence is coming off a 49-14 win over Frankfort–a result that shocked many as Frankfort has been one of the best teams in the state this year–powered by quarterback Brock Green, who threw for 330 yards and three touchdowns and added two rushing scores. Green has thrown 17 touchdown passes over his last five games. He has thrown for 2,085 yards and 18 touchdowns on the season.
Sophomore running back Paxton Myers averages 104.8 rushing yards per game and has scored 10 total touchdowns this season. He ran for 136 yards and a touchdown against Frankfort. Independence also has a trio of productive receivers in K.J. Viars, who averages 77.9 receiving yards per game, senior Carson Treadway, who averages 72.4, and Myers who adds 60 yards per game on top of his rushing totals.
Independence has scored 273 points this season while allowing 126, making the Patriots a formidable challenge for East in the season finale. The Spartans will look to finish the year with a strong performance at home and send their seniors out on a high note. Senior night will be held before kickoff.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday at Spartan Stadium.
