Fairland hands Portsmouth first conference loss of the season with a game winning touchdown
By: Caleb McCleskey
Posted on:
PORTSMOUTH, Ohio (WOUB) – The Ohio Valley Conference would get a game this season that no one would forget. The Fairland dragons won on the road against the Portsmouth Trojans, 22–21, with a walk off touchdown and 2-point conversion.
The last time these two teams played was during the playoffs last year. Portsmouth would end up winning that game, 50-38, thanks to a historic night from Chase Heiland. After the loss last season, the dragons would be looking for revenge.
Heading into the first quarter, both team’s first offensive possessions would be turnover on downs. Throughout the entire game, both defenses were on point to not allow the other team to put up scores. By the end of the first quarter, the score would remain 0-0.
The start of the second quarter would remain much like the first. Both teams would have to resort to punts constantly to not give the other team good field position.
But then with less than 10 seconds to go in the first half, Fairland’s Jack Hayden would get a 18-yard pass from Ethan Wall, finding himself in the endzone getting the first score of the game.
At the end of the half, the dragons would lead the Trojans, 8-0.
The second half would end up being the complete opposite of the first half. Both offenses would start clicking and the scores would start piling up. Portsmouth would stick to their run game with Heiland, while Fairland would have a mix of a run and pass plays.
For Portsmouth’s first offensive possession of the second half, Heiland would not give in. With 6:38 left in the quarter, Heiland gets the 1-yard rush to get in the endzone putting the Trojans on the board.
Heading into the fourth quarter, the Portsmouth offense would not stop as JT Williams would have a quarterback sneak for 5 yards extending the Trojan lead. 14-8 Portsmouth.
But Fairland would not shy away from the challenge. With 5:25 left in the game, Quentin Cremeans gets the Dragon within striking distance of the goal line, then Connor Black gets the 1-yard pass from Wall and scores. With the successful 2-point conversion, the game would be tied.
With the game far from over, Portsmouth would have its final offensive possession of the game marching down the field with Heiland and Fernando Poxes getting the 20-yard pass from J.T. Williams. On the Dragons’ 1-yard line, Williams would have a 1-yard quarterback sneak to get himself into the endzone, giving the lead back to the Trojans.
The dragons would have the final possession of the game with 35 seconds left on the clock. With Fairland getting to midfield, Portsmouth would have a pass interference call on them putting the Dragons at the 35-yard line. With no time left on the game, Wall would throw up the ball towards the endzone with Fairland’s very own Keegan Smith being able to grab the catch over multiple Trojan defenders for the 35-yard touchdown. The Dragons would then get the 2-point conversion winning this OVC matchup, 22-21.
Looking towards the future, Portsmouth looks to bounce back at home against Rock Hill, while the Fairland Dragons will host the Ironton Fighting Tigers.