WEEK 4: Fairland @ Wheelersburg

[FHSstudentsection]

thoughts on the game?

[maniac66]

Won't be close sad to say the Burg is improving every fame and will be in the mix for the playoffs and soc championship.
The SOC is just a much stronger conference than the OVC not knocking the OVC but just a fact right now.

[noles_fan]

Burg easy

[NY BUCKS]

Burg big

[A-Town Big Dog]

Wheelersburg by a wide margin.

[dragonsfan]

I think the Dragons could win. going to be a good game

[Bleeding Red]

I think the Dragons could win. going to be a good game

I think Fairland can keep it a close game through the first half. From what I have seen from Fairland, they are not well conditioned and will tire out in the 3rd quarter, then I think Burg will run wild.

[FHSstudentsection]

new running back campbell didnt have much competition last friday night so we arent to sure about his varsity talent. This will be a good test. GO DRAGONS!!!

[RationalVoice]

I know the game was a rout, 40-17. Any reports on details of the game ?

[Burg_Grad_77]

Here's the story from the PDT this morning.

Strong senior play helps Pirates slay Dragons
by Jake Dorow, PDT Contributor

WHEELERSBURG – The Pirates took control of the game playing in front of a home crowd at Ed Miller Stadium using key defensive plays and strong offensive play to come away 40-17 winners over the visiting Dragons of Fairland. Wheelersburg improved to a 3-1 while Fairland dropped to 1-3.

"The kids came out and did a a great job of opening up and taking care of driving the ball down the field and got the big blocked kick and scoring on that opportunity, " coach Rob Woodward said.

The game took off right from the start as Wheelersburg may have come up with the biggest play of the entire game in the first few minutes. Mark O' Brien ran through the Fairland offensive line on a fourth and three and blocked Kris Pinkerman's punt attempt. The block gave the Pirates momentum and they never looked back.

"Anytime you have a big play at the beginning of the game all the momentum comes to your side and you take it away from their side," Woodward said. "We did a good job of building on that momentum."

The block gave the Pirates the ball on their own 17-yard-line and senior quarterback, Alex Shears, knew exactly what to do after that. After two incomplete passes and an offside penalty Alex Shears connected with another senior, Brett Hood, for a 22-yard touchdown pass. It was the games first of many scores from Alex Shears.

"He is a vital part of our offense and defense as well, he is able to pick up those big yards when we need it," Woodward said.

Shears ended the game with 187 passing yards going 11 for 18 with three touchdown passes and no interceptions. Shears was also a terror on the ground as he rushed for 113 yards and two touchdowns and had no fumbles. In all, Shears ended the game with 300 total yards with five touchdowns with no turnovers.

"He does a great job of spreading the ball around to our backs and receivers and it takes some pressure off him and it allows him to make those plays," Woodward said.

However, with Wheelersburg's offense looking unstoppable, Fairland tried their best to stick around, and that is exactly what they did. After Alex Shears scored on a 19-yard touchdown run, Fairland got the ball and drove it 55 yards and finished off the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run by Tyree Ceasar to cut the Pirates lead to 21-10.

"Their a good ball-club that fights until the end and they give you everything they got and I give hats off to them doing just that, " Woodward said.

Shears did not panic however, and gave the Dragons the answer they did not want to see. From the first play from scrimmage, Shears looked long and with one-on-one coverage on the outside he fired a deep ball to Eddie Miller. The two connected for a 65-yard touchdown pass with 2:20 remaining in the half. The play only took 19 seconds, giving the game back in Wheelersburg's hands.

Eddie Miller ended the game with four catches for 130 yards, including the 65-yard touchdown catch from Alex Shears.

"It was huge, anytime they got up and started to get a little momentum we were able to snuff it out and get a big play and that is what you got have in your team," Woodward said.

With Wheelersburg up 27-10, Fairland was again looking to cut the lead before half-time. The Dragons were driving when quarterback Kyle Sowards' pass to the sideline was intercepted by Miller stopping a threat.

Shears and Miller were not the only Pirates to have an impact on the game. Senior running back Mark O' Brien chipped in with 50 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown and he also had the block punt which helped jump start the Pirates.

With the game seemingly out of reach, the Dragons would not let Wheelersburg walk away with an easy victory. Freshman running back, Nathan Campbell scored a 12-yard touchdown run with 3:25 remaining in the third quarter to cut the lead within two scores, 34-17.

"We learned how we got to work and adverse situations and we faced some adversity a different times and we have got to continue to get better against that," Woodward said.

But it was the senior quarterback that squashed the Dragons hopes of a comeback. With 5:55 remaining in the game, Alex Shears connected with wide-out Dylan Miller for an 8-yard touchdown pass for the dagger .

In the end it was the strong play of the Wheelerburg's seniors that doomed Fairlands hope of an upset. The team will look up to these players again as the season progresses and the Pirates look to continue to build momentum after a 3-1 start.

Scoring Summary

Wheelersburg- 7 20 7 6

Fairland- 3 7 7 0

Wheelersburg-- #14 Alex Shears 22 yard touchdown pass to #32 Brett Hood

Extra Point- #12 Eddie Miller

Fairland-- #45 Nathan Campbell 27-yard Field Goal

Second Quarter

Wheelersburg-- #8 Mark O' Brien 1-yard touchdown run

Extra Point- #12 Eddie Miller

Wheelersburg-- #14 Alex Shears 19-yard touchdown run

Extra Point- #12 Eddie Miller

Fairland-- #22 Tyree Ceasar 1-yard touchdown run

Extra Point- #17 Cody Midkiff

Wheelersburg-- #14 Alex Shears 65-yard touchdown pass to #12 Eddie Miller

Third Quarter

Wheelersburg-- #14 Alex Shears 14-yard touchdown run

Extra Point- #12 Eddie Miller

Fairland-- #45 Nathan Campbell 12-yard touchdown run

Extra Point- #17 Cody Midkiff

Fourth Quarter

Wheelersburg-- #14 Alex Shears 8-yard touchdown pass to #1 Dylan Mille

Read more: Portsmouth Daily Times - Strong senior play helps Pirates slay Dragons