PORTSMOUTH — Prior to the beginning of the 2024 season, both the Portsmouth Trojans and Fairland Dragons expected to be fighting it out for the Ohio Valley Conference.
The game turned out much like a heavyweight title fight and even included some controversy in the final decision.
The Dragons scored on a Hail Mary pass by Ethan Wall to Keegan Smith on the game’s final play. Wall then hit Jack Hayden for the game-winning two-point conversion pass to give Fairland a thrilling 22-21 win on Friday night at the Trojan Coliseum.
"We have a play where we put Jack (Hayden) and Keegan (Smith) - our two tallest receivers on that side - and just tell them to go get the ball," said Fairland coach Michael Jackson. "They're both athletic and can jump, so we let them to go up and catch the ball."
Jackson revealed afterwards that the final two-point conversion play was an easy decision.
"I have two kickers on my roster and they both went out this week. So we didn't have time to practice kicking. So I didn't have a kicker, so we had to go for two. We didn't have an option."
The win puts Fairland (7-0, 4-0 OVC) in sole possession of first place with two games remaining in the conference. The Trojans fall to 5-2 overall and 3-1 in league play.
Things began to look bleak for the Dragons when quarterback J.T. Williams nosed his way in from 1-yard out to give Portsmouth the lead.
Malachi Loper nailed the extra point and the Trojan faithful began celebrating as they took a 21-14 lead with just 28 seconds remaining.
But following a short kickoff, Fairland had enough time to pull out a miracle.
On first down, Wall hit Hayden on a wheel route for an 18-yard gain and into Trojan territory. The Dragons tried a hook-and-ladder a play later but only gained a handful of yards. Then a defensive pass interference call against Portsmouth on the ensuing play moved the ball to the Trojan 30.
Because the penalty was on the defense, it allowed Fairland a chance to run one untimed down.
Wall dropped back and aired out a Hail Mary throw into the end zone, where Smith leaped in front of two Portsmouth defenders and hauled in the catch for the score.
Then came the controversy.
On the ensuing two-point play attempt, Wall's shovel pass to Quinten Cremeans was batted down by a Portsmouth defender, a mad scramble ensued, and Wall was tackled to end the game.
Or at least that was what everyone thought.
A penalty for a sideline warning was assessed to the Trojans for having players on the field when the play started, marking the ball half the distance and giving the Dragons another crack at a two-point conversion try.
Wall took the snap and hit a diving Hayden on a quick slant for the 2 points and the Fairland bench exploded onto the field in celebration.
"I felt that no one had entered the field of play until after the ball had hit the ground and the ball should've been deemed and incomplete pass, but they let the play continue," said Portsmouth coach Bruce Kalb. "And that's where the confusion started."
Wall completed 14 of his 26 passes for 178 yards and 3 touchdowns through the air. Kam Kitts led the team both in receiving and rushing yards, with 91 and 64 yards on 8, respectively.
The first quarter saw both defenses showcase their talents, as the Trojans used sacks from Alex McKenzie and a combined one by Kingston Littlefield and Dylan Sanderlin to aid in defusing the Dragons first possession.
The Dragons defense stood tall on Portsmouth's opening drive, as Smith and C.J. Graham both helped to bat away a fourth down pass in the end zone, and give the ball back to Fairland.
The Dragons took the lead in the final seconds in the opening half when Wall hit Hayden on a 18-yard touchdown toss. Wall's two-point conversion pass to Smith made it 8-0 at the break.
Portsmouth took control in the third quarter, taking their opening possession and going 62-yards in 12 plays to get the Trojans their first points. Heiland capped off the drive with a 2-yard run to make it 8-6 with 6:39 left in the third.
"In the first half we were bending but we were finally getting stops," said Jackson. "We couldn't do that in the second half."
The fourth quarter saw both squads trade scores, starting with J.T. Williams’ first score of the night on a 5-yard run on what appeared to be an improvisation of a busted play. Brother Camron Williams threw a pass to Trevin Brooks for the 2-point conversion to make it 14-8 with 7:18 left to play.
Fairland quickly answered with a 6-play drive that featured a 35-yard screen pass by Wall to Kitts to put the Dragons at the Portsmouth 22. Three plays later, Wall hit Connor Black on a slant for a 1-yard score and tied the game up at 14-all with 5:20 remaining and set up the thrilling finish.
"Hats off to Fairland. They're a good program. They came down here and played and played a heck of a football game," said Kalb. "They have no quit in them."
The Trojans were led offensively by running back Chase Heiland, who carried the ball 37 times for 203 yards and a rushing score.
Next Friday, Fairland returns home to face the Ironton Fighting Tigers while Portsmouth will host Rock Hill.
Fairland 0 8 0 14 = 22
Portsmouth 0 6 0 15 = 21
Second Quarter
Fa — Jack Hayden 18 pass from Ethan Wall (Wall pass to Smith), 0:21.
Third Quarter
Prt — Chase Heiland 2 run (run failed), 6:39.
Fourth Quarter
Prt — J.T. Willaims 5 run (C. Williams pass to Brooks), 7:16.
Fa — Connor Black 1 pass from Ethan Wall (pass failed), 5:20.
Prt — J.T. Williams 1 run (Malachi Loper kick), 0:28.
Fa — Keegan Smith 30 pass from Ethan Wall (Wall pass to Hayden), 0:00.
———
Fa Prt
First downs 16 18
Rushes-yards 19-82 55-267
Passing yards 178 43
Total yards 258 310
Cmp-Att-Int 14-26-0 5-9-0
Fumbles-lost 1-0 2-0
Penalties-yards 7-57 8-75
Punts-average 4-35.5 4-29.75
———
Individual Leaders
RUSHING–Fairland: Kam Kitts 18-64, Jack Hayden 1-2, Ethan Wall 5-minus 7, Quentin Cremeans 5-23; Portsmouth: Chase Heiland 37-203 TD, Nick Copley 6-24, Camron Williams 1-minus 7, Landon Malone 1-0, J.T. Williams 8-45 2TD, Alex McKenzie 1-6, Team 1-minus 4
PASSING–Fairland: Ethan Wall 8-18-0 89 TD; Portsmouth: J.T. Williams 4-8-0 33.
RECEIVING–Fairland: Keegan Smith 2-34 TD, Kam Kitts 4-91, Jack Hayden 3-51, C.J. Graham 1-1, Connor Black 1-1 TD; Portsmouth: Lathan Bradley 1-7, Trevin Brooks 1-4, Camron Williams 2-22, Landon Malone 1-10.
MISSED FIELD GOALS–None.
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