By JIM WALKER

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

GALLIPOLIS — Keegan Smith wasn’t being prejudiced. He caught passes from both quarterbacks.

The Fairland wide receiver and defensive back caught 6 passes for 148 yards and a touchdown from his quarterback Ethan Wall and also caught a Gallipolis pass that he returned for a touchdown as the Dragons routed the Blue Devils 40-7 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Friday.

The unbeaten Dragons finished with 290 total yards including 219 via the air as Wall finished 16-of-18 with an interception.

Fairland (5-0, 2-0) jumped out to a 7-0 lead on their first play from scrimmage after Smith returned a punt to the Gallipolis 18.

A quick screen to C.J. Graham covered the distance and Aiden Miller added the conversion kick.

The Dragons got the ball back after another punt as they went 38 yards in 7 plays capped by Quentin Cremeans’ 1-yard run. Miller’s kick made it 14-0.

The defense produced the next score as Smith stepped in front of a pass and returned it 33 yards for the touchdown and it was 21-0.

It was the defense yet again coming up with the big play as Gallipolis quarterback Braylon Rathburn was whistled for intentional grounding in the end zone which resulted in a safety and a 23-0 lead.

Fairland used the  free kick to get deep into Gallipolis territory only to have the drive stall. Miller took over from there and booted a 27-yard field goal and the lead was 26-0.

Jack Hayden recovered a fumble to set up the next Fairland drive.

Smith caught a 33-yard pass to the Blue Devils’ 30 and a few plays later Wall hit Conner Black with a 7-yard scoring strike and it was 33-0 at the half.

In the third quarter, Smith caught. 3-yard pass and ran through the Gallipolis defense for a 60-yard touchdown play. Miller’s kick put the lead at 40-0.

The Blue Devils avoided the shutout on a 48-yard catch and run pass play from Braylon Rathburn to Enoch Patterson.

Gallipolis (0-5, 0-2) hads just 119 yards of offense with 39 net yards on the ground and 80 through the air as Rathburn was constantly harassed by the Fairland pass rush. Rathburn was 7-of-18 for 80 yards and 2 interceptions.

Brydan Howell rushed 8 times for 56 yards to lead the Blue Devils’ ground game.

Next Friday, Fairland will host South Point and Gallipolis visits Coal Grove in league games.

Fairland    26 7 7 0 = 40

Gallipolis 0 0 0 7 = 7

First Quarter

Fa — CJ. Graham 18 pass from Ethan wall (Aiden Miller kick)

Fa — Quentin Cremeans 1 run ( Aiden Miller kick)

Fa — Keegan Smith 33 interception return (Aiden Miller kick)

Fa — Safety (intentional grounding in end zone)

Fa — Aiden Miller 27 field goal

Second Quarter

Fa — Conner Black 7 pass from Ethan Wall (Aiden Miller kick)

Third Quarter

Fa — Keegan Smith 60 pass from Ethan Wall (Aiden Miller kick)

Fourth Quarter

Ga – Enoch Patterson 48 pass from Braylon Rathburn (kick good)

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FaGa

First downs 15 8

Rushes-yards 19-71 39

Passing yards 219 80

Total yards 290 119

Cmp-Att-Int 16-22-2 7-20-2

Fumbles-lost 1-1 1-1

Penalties-yards 6-40 10-68

Punts-average 0-00.0 4-32.5

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING–Fairland: Kam Kitts 5-23, Jack Hayden 3-10, Lucas Bompus 2-4, Ethan Wall 1-4, Quentin Cremeans 4-21 TD, Garrett Massie 2-8, Kylan Blake 1-0, Levi Mitchell 1-1; Gallipolis: Brydan Howell 8-56, Braylon Rathburn 8-minus 6, Evan Warren 2-7, Ely Sizemore 2-minus 8, Parker Burris 3-4.

PASSING–Fairland: 14-18-1 209 3-TD, Owen Burcham 2-4-1 10; Gallipolis: Braylon Rathburn 7-18-2 83, Ely Sizemore 0-2-0.

RECEIVING–Fairland: Kam Kitts 1-10, C.J. Graham 4-28 TD, Keegan Smith 6-148 TD, Conner Black 1-7 TD, Owen Burcham 1-3, Quentin Cremeas 1-13, Kylan Blake 1-10, Luke Ball 1-0; Gallipolis: Brydan Howell 4-16, Enoch Patterson 3-64.

MISSED FIELD GOALS–None.