PROCTORVILLE — Jack Hayden threw 2 touchdown passes and ran for another, the defense put the clamps on Coal Grove's rushing attack, and the Dragons cruised to a 36-8 win on Friday night in an Ohio Valley Conference game at Jim Mayo Memorial Stadium.
The win secured at least a share of the OVC title. They can win it out-right with a win next Friday night against their rivals, the Chesapeake Panthers. The Dragons last OVC title came in 2013.
Hayden — who's been filling in at the quarterback spot for the injured Ethan Wall — did a little bit of everything to help lead the Dragons offensively. The senior finished with 157 yards through the air and 72 on the ground.
"Jack just got better everyday in practice this week at quarterback. That's why we let him air out more this week, "said Fairland head coach Michael Jackson. "He was so much more relaxed this week."
But it wasn't just Hayden who made plays all night.
Junior running back Davin Murphy led the Dragons in rushing with 5 carries for 94 yards, including a 63-yard burst down the middle of the field in the second quarter to extend the Dragons lead to 28-0.
Another big performance came from C.J. Graham who caught a screen pass in the first quarter and zig-zagged around defenders down the field for a 66-yard touchdown score. The senior also recovered a fumble and intercepted a pass on the defensive side of the ball.
The Dragons (8-1, 5-0 OVC) took the opening kickoff and moved methodically down the field with a 10-play drive. Kam Kitts fielded a slip screen pass from Hayden on a second down play and scooted down the sideline for a 28-yard gain to move the Dragons into the red zone. Then on the next play, Hayden tossed a quick screen out to Xander Collins for an 18-yard score and a 6-0 lead with 9:14 left in the opening quarter.
Coal Grove (5-3, 3-2) looked as though they might respond on their opening drive, marching to the Fairland 37. But the ball was popped loose from Kaden Murphy and the Dragons recovered the ball at the 6:58 mark of the first.
Jackson praised his defense for being able to create turnovers and stop the Hornets potent rushing attack.
"Our defensive line played great. We challenged them this week in practice, "said Jackson. "We knew what Coach Lucas was going to do. They did great."
"I told our (defense) that we gotta put four plays together. Super proud of the defense."
Fairland wasted no time taking advantage of the turnover. Hayden gained 44-yards on an option keeper on a second down run. Then Lucas Bompus went north-and-south on the next play for the 18-yard score. Hayden hit Keegan Smith on a slant for the two point conversion to make it 14-0.
Hayden later capped off the scoring for the Dragons on their final drive of the half. The scoring play came on 4th down play, when Hayden decided to tuck it and take off up field to his left, cut back against the grain and evade a tackle for a 21-yard score with just 8 second left before halftime.
The Hornets got on the scoreboard early in the fourth, as Murphy took a toss towards his bench and made a cutback in traffic and raced his way for a 51-yard score to make the final score 36-8.
Murphy led all rushers with 21 carries for 144 yards.
Coal Grove will host Rock Hill next Friday.
Coal Grove 0 0 0 8 = 8
Fairland 22 14 0 0 = 36
First Quarter
Fa — Xander Collins 18 pass from Jack Hayden (pass failed), 9:14.
Fa — Lucas Bompus 18 run (Hayden pass to Smith), 6:09.
Fa — C.J. Graham 66 pass from Jack Hayden (Hayden to Murphy), 3:40.
Second Quarter
Fa — Davin Murphy run (pass failed), 7:22.
Fa — Jack Hayden 21 run (Hayden pass to Graham), 0:08.
Fourth Quarter
CG — Kaden Murphy 51 run (Smith pass to Murphy), 6:56.
———
CG Fa
First downs 10 14
Rushes-yards 30-150 24-207
Passing yards 7 158
Total yards 157 365
Cmp-Att-Int 3-10-2 10-17-0
Fumbles-lost 1-1 1-0
Penalties-yards 4-30 8-85
Punts-average 3-31.67 2-33.0
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Individual Leaders
RUSHING–Coal Grove: Rylan Smith 1-6, Braydon Klaiber 1-minus 1, Braden Schug 1-3, Kaden Murphy 21-144 TD, Leland McKnight 2-minus 14, Caden Turner 1-5, Liam White 2-9, Team 1-minus 2; Fairland: Kam Kitts 2-4, Jack Hayden 4-72 TD, Lucas Bompus 3-19 TD, Davin Murray 5-94, Eli Pine 1-5, Keegan Smith 1-13, Garrett Massey 4-4, Levi Mitchell 1-3, Carson Pemberton 1-2, Kinyon Smith 1-0, Team 1-minus 5.
PASSING–Coal Grove: Chayce Murphy 0-1-1 0, Leland McKnight 3-9-1 7; Fairland: Jack Hayden 9-15-0 157 2TD, Eli Pine 1-2-0 1.
RECEIVING–Coal Grove: Rylan Smith 1-minus 3, Braydon Klaiber 1-6, Logan Roberts 1-6; Fairland: Kam Kitts 2-31, Lucas Bompus 1-3, C.J. Graham 1-66 TD, Xander Collins 3-41 TD, Keegan Smith 5-42, Connor Black 1-2, Kylan Blake 1-1.
MISSED FIELD GOALS–None.
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