PROCTORVILLE — Eight was enough. The fumbles were more than they could handle.

Eight players including four starters were missing due to injuries, and the Fairland Dragons compounded their problems with five fumbles as they lost 18-6 to the Wellston Golden Rockets Friday.

Although the Dragons only lost one of the fumbles, they disrupted their field position and cost themselves two scores.

“We’re going into the end zone a couple of times and just drop the ball. We just laid the ball on the ground too much,” said Fairland coach Dave Carroll.

“We cost ourselves three scoring chances and then the injuries took their toll.”

With tailback Eric Riley lost for the season and replacement Tanner Sowards injured, quarterback Chad Fisher moved to tailback and wide receiver Jon Baise filled in at quarterback.

Fisher had 51 yards on 13 carries, but he was injured just before halftime and played sparingly in the second half.

“They came out in the second half and made some adjustments and we had too many injuries to overcome it,” said Carroll who only dressed 26 players.

Wellston (2-3) drove for the game’s first touchdown with 6:49 left in the opening quarter. Austin Osborne took the ball at the 4-yard line and fumbled, but Austin Craig recovered the ball in the end zone for the Rockets.

Fairland (1-4) came back with a 65-yard, six-play drive capped by Fisher’s 35-yard scoring run and it was 6-6 with 7:16 left in the half.

Wellston came out in the second half and drove 72 yards in eight plays with Osborne going 12 yards for the score and a 12-6 lead.

Noah Massey gave the Rockets some cushion with a 66-yard touchdown run on a third-and-12 play and it was 18-6 with 1:41 left in the third quarter.

Osborne finished with 168 yards on 27 carries while Massey had 69 yards on four tries.

Baise and Fisher combined for 60 yards passing.

Wellston 6 0 12 0 = 18

Fairland 0 6 0 0 = 6

First Quarter

We — Austin Craig recover fumble in end zone (run failed) 6:49

Second Quarter

Fa — Chad Fisher 35 run (pass failed) 7:16

Third Quarter

We — Austin Osborne 12 run (run failed) 8:00 (Drive 8-72)

We — Noah Massey 66 run (pass failed) 1:41

We Fa

First downs 13 11

Rushes-yards 48-286 32-94

Passing yards -3 60

Total yards 283 154

Cmp-Att-Int 2-2-0 3-9-0

Fumbles-lost 1-0 5-1

Punts-average 3-30.6 4-35.5

Penalties-yards 10-80 3-15

Individual Leaders

RUSHING-Wellston: Austin Osborne 27-168, Noah Massey 4-69, Austin Craig 1-2, Trenton Jayjohn 12-30, Timmy Erwin 2-13; Fairland: Chad Fisher 13-51, Jon Baise 7-11, Tanner Sowards 9-18, Tyree Ceaser 3-14.

PASSING-Wellston: Austin Osborne 2-2-0 minus 3; Fairland: Jon Baise 2-7-0 42, Chad Fisher 1-2-0 18.

RECEIVING-Wellston: Noah Massey 2-minus 3; Fairland: Kyle Lawhorn 1-18, Jonathan Holbrook 1-24, Jon Baise 1-18.

MISSED FIELD GOALS: None.