Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

GLENNHAYES, W.Va. — When the Fairland Dragons went through their check list before hitting the road to play the Tolsia Rebels on Friday, they forgot one thing: their concentration.

The Dragons had 12 penalties, five turnovers and five missed quarterback snaps in a 12-9 loss to the previously winless Rebels.

“We didn’t come ready to play. We tried to tell the players that Tolsia was young, but if they don’t turn the ball over in their first two games they were right in them,” said Fairland coach Dave Carroll.

“They didn’t have a turnover and we had five. We lacked concentration. We let them hang around and it cost us.”

Fairland (2-1) had just 127 yards of offense and 100 yards in penalties.

Nathan Campbell ran 16 times for 64 yards but had a 75-yard touchdown run called back on a penalty. Tyree Ceasar had 42 yards on four carries.

Tolsia (1-2) took a 6-0 lead on a 40-yard run by Dawson Presley with 3:15 left in the first quarter. Presley had 83 yards on 14 carries for the game.

Fairland was scoreless in the first half but got a safety in the third quarter when Dylan Murphy tackled a Tolsia runner in the end zone.

After the ensuring free kick, the Dragons went 39 yards in five plays capped by a 40-yard touchdown pass from Chance Short to Kyle Sowards. Issiah Vidal kicked the conversion for a 9-6 lead.

The Rebels took the lead on a 4-yard run by Presley with just 54 seconds to play.

Fairland got the ball back, but they suffered two bad snaps and eventually turned ball over on downs.

Fairland 0 0 9 0 = 9

Tolsia 6 0 0 6 = 12

First Quarter

To — Dawson Presley 40 run (run failed) 3:15

Third Quarter

Fa — Dylan Murphy tackled runner in end zone (Issiah Vidal kick) 8:L17

Fa — Kyle Sowards 40 pass from Chance Short (Issiah Vidal kick) 5:54

Fourth Quarter

To — Dawson Presley 4 run (pass failed) 0:54

Fa To

First downs 6 9

Rushes-yards 32-62 34-117

Passing yards 65 107

Total yards 127 224

Cmp-Att-Int 3-12-2 7-20-0

Fumbles-lost 3-3 0-0

Penalties-yards 12-100 12-95

Individual Leaders

RUSHING—Fairland: Chance Short 7-minus 36, Nathan Campbell 16-64, Tyree Ceasar 4-42, Kyle Sowards 4-minus 7, Derrik Willis 1-minus 1; Tolsia: Wes Waller 9-16, Dakota Robertson 5-6, Dawson Presley 14-83, Brandon Ward 5-3, Luke Presley 1-9.

PASSSING—Fairland: Chance Short 3-12-2 65; Tolsia: Dakota Robertson 8-20-0 107.

RECEIVING—Fairland: Kyle Sowards 2-56, Cody Midkiff 1-9; Tolsia: Terry Davis 2-17, Tyler Stroud 2-44, Brandon Ward 1-7, Wes Waller 1-7, Luke Presley 1-47.