By Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PT. PLEASANT, W.Va. — This marked the first meeting between the Fairland Dragons and Pt. Pleasant Big Blacks.

If this is how things are going to go, Pt. Pleasant doesn’t want a second date.

The Dragons racked up 402 total yards including 231 on the ground and held the Big Blacks to just `164 yards with a mere 15 yards passing as they rolled to a 30-13 win.

Fairland’s running game was led by Kam Kitts with 125 yards on 12 carries. Jack Hayden ran 6 times for 64 yards and a touchdown while also catching 3 passes for 28 yards and a score. Lucas Bompus added 44 yards on 4 carries.

Quarterback Ethan Wall was 17-of-21 for 121 yards, 3 touchdowns and an interception. Keegan Smith caught 6 passes for 64 yards to lead the balanced receiving corps.

In their first game of the season, Pt. Pleasant held the Dragons on downs at midfield to start the game and then covered the other half of the field in 7 plays as Caden Hill ran 9 yards on a keeper. Alex Shrader kicked the point after.

The Dragons’ offense sputtered on their next 3 possessions including an interception. But the defense continued to stop the Big Blacks as well.

After an exchange of punts in the second quarter, the Dragons used a good punt return to reach the Pt. Pleasant 38. Hayden lined up in the Wildcat and ran down the sidelines for a touchdown.

Aiden Miller kicked the game-tying point after.

The Big Blacks went 3-and-out  and the Dragons had the ball at the Pt. Pleasant 42. Ward hit Smith with a 20-yard scoring pass 8 plays into the drive and Miller’s kick put the Dragons ahead for good at 14-7.

Fairland got the ball back at their own 42 and Ward completed 5 passes including 19 yards to Conner Black for the touchdown and it was 20-7.

A bad snap on the conversion kick led to an incomplete pass,

An interception by C.J. Graham on the second play of the second half gave the Dragons the ball in enemy territory at the 48.

Despite a holding penalty, the Dragons went the distance in 10 plays capped by Ward’s 24-yard scoring strike to Hayden on a wheel route.

Miller connected on the conversion and it was 27-7.

The Big Blacks answered with a 71-yard, 10-play march with Isaac Creel going the 8 yards for the score. The conversion failed and it was 27-13.

The teams exchanged punts and then Fairland used a 31-yard run by Kitts to help get to the 17-yard line. A penalty moved the ball 5 yards closer and Miller connected on a 29-yard attempt and it was 30-13.

This Friday, the Dragons visit Fairfield Union and former Chesapeake coach Andy Clark.

Fairland    0 20 7 3 = 30

Pt. Pleasant 7 0 6 0 = 13

First Quarter

PP — Caden Hill 9 run (Alex Shrader kick)

Second Quarter

Fa — Jack Hayden 38 run (Aiden Miller kick)

Fa — Keegan Smith 20 pass from Ethan Wall (Aiden Miller kick)

Fa — Conner Black 9 pass from Ethan Wall (pass failed)

Third Quarter

Fa — Jack Hayden 24 pass from Ethan Ward (Aiden Miller kick)

PP — Isaac Creel 8 run (kick failed)

Fourth Quarter

Fa — Aiden Miller 29 field goal

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Fa PP

First downs 19 8

Rushes-yards 36-231 30-149

Passing yards 171 15

Total yards 402 164

Cmp-Att-Int 17-21-1 4-12-1

Fumbles-lost 0-0 0-0

Penalties-yards 4-25 9-45

Punts-average 3-28.0 5-30.6

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING–Fairland: Kam Kitts 12-125, Jack Hayden 6-64 TD, Lucas Bompus 4-44, Quentin Cremeans 5-13, Ethan Wall 10-minus 15; Pt. Pleasant: Isaac Creel 16-120 TD, Caden Hill 9-24 TD, Connor Hatten 2-4, Reece Hunt 2-minus 4, Landon Long 1-5.

PASSING–Fairland: Ethan Wall 17-21-1 121; Pt. Pleasant: Caden Hill 4-12-1 15.

RECEIVING–Fairland: Keegan Smith 6-64 TD, Jack Hayden 3-28 TD, Conner Black 4-23 TD, C.J. Graham 3-35, Kam Kitts 1-1; Pt. Pleasant: Landon Long 1-9, Anthony Marrero 1-4, Greg Devault 1-2, Connor Hatten 1-0.

MISSED FIELD GOALS–None.