Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PROCTORVILLE — The Fairland Dragons may have had some illness earlier in the week, but Keedrick Cunningham had the right medicine for his teammates.
Cunningham ran 20 times for 197 yards three touchdowns and also returned a punt for another score as the Dragons remained unbeaten in the Ohio Valley Conference with a 42-32 win over the Gallipolis Blue Devils on Friday.
“We stepped up when we needed to,” said Fairland coach Melvin Cunningham. “We’ve been battling sickness all week. We had eight starters not feeling up to par but the kids really sucked it up and showed heart and determination.”
Fairland (3-3, 3-0) had 287 total yards — all on the ground — with Cunningham doing most of the damage.
The loss was the first for Gallipolis (3-3, 2-1) in the league. The Blue Devils had 257 total yards with 161 on the ground.
Jacob Campbell had 89 yards rushing on 23 carries for Gallipolis. Quarterback Justin McClelland ran 16 times for 43 yards and was 10of-22 passing for 97 yards but three interceptions.
Gallipolis took a 6-0lead on a 20-yard pass from McClelland to Cory Call.
Fairland came back to take an 8-6 lead on an 11-yard run by Cunningham and Joel Lambiotte’s conversion run.
Campbell’s 9-yard scoring run put Gallipolis back on top but the Dragons took a 15-12 halftime lead on Cunningham’s 42-yard punt return. Tayton Hunt kicked the conversion.
Fairland extended its lead to 21-12 on a 2-yard run by Chase Fisher in the third quarter.
Gallipolis answered as Campbell ran 6 yards for a score to make it 21-18 and then Campbell’s 3-yard touchdown run to start the fourth quarter put the Blue Devils back on top. Campbell also ran for the conversion and it was 26-21.
Lambiotte ran 15 yards for a touchdown and Cunningham added the conversion as Fairland went on top again 29-26.
Gallipolis took its final on the ensuing kickoff as James Armstrong returned the kick 88 yards for the score and it was 32-29 with 6:33 to play
But it didn’t take Fairland long to take the lead for good as Cunningham broke loose on a 46-yard run and it was 35-32.
Fairland recovered a fumble at the Gallipolis 25-yard line to set up a 7-yard scoring run Fisher. Lambiotte ran for the conversion and it was 43-32.
The Blue Devils were forced to pass and Lambiotte came up with an interception and ran it back to the 30. Four plays later Cunningham ran 15 yards for the clinching score.
Next Friday Fairland visits South Point and Gallipolis hosts Coal Grove.
Gallipolis    6    6    6    14    =    32
Fairland    8    7    6    28    =    42
First Quarter
Ga — Cory Call 20 pass from Justin McClelland (pass failed)
Fa — Keedrick Cunningham 11 run (Joel Lambiotte run)
Second Quarter
Ga — Jacob Campbell 9 run (pass failed)
Fa — Keedrick Cunningham 42 punt return (Tayton Hunt kick)
Third Quarter
Fa — Chase Fisher 2 run (run failed)
Ga — Jacob Campbell 6 run (pass failed)
Fourth Quarter
Ga — Jacob Campbell 3 run (Campbell run)
Fa — Joel Lambiotte 15 run (Keedrick Cunningham run)
Ga — James Armstrong 88 kickoff return run (kick failed)
Fa — Keedrick Cunningham 46 run (kick failed)
Fa — Chase Fisher 7 run (Joel Lambiotte run)
Fa — Keedrick Cunningham 15 run (run failed)
Ga    Fa
First downs    18    11
Rushes-yards    50-161    35-287
Passing yards    96    0
Total yards    257    287
Cmp-Att-Int    10-22-3    2-3-1
Fumbles-lost    1-0    0-0
Penalties-yards    7-57    9-75
Punts-average    1-30.0    2-33.5
———
Individual Leaders
RUSHING —Gallipolis: Jacob Campbell 23-89, Justin McClelland 16-43, Boo Pullins 10-37, John Stout 1-2; Fairland: Keedrick Cunningham 20-197, Chase Fisher 11-39, Joel Lambiotte 5-51.
PASSING — Gallipolis: Justin McClelland 10-22-3 97; Fairland: Joel Lambiotte 2-3-1 0.
RECEIVING — Gallipolis: Jacob Campbell 3-17, Cory Call 2-29, Garrett Burns 3-32, John Stout 1-17, Cade Roberts 1-0; Fairland: Ty Wilcoxon 1-2, Greg Keeney 1-minus 2.