PROCTORVILLE — Simon & Garfunkel sang “I Am A Rock, I Am An Island.” The Fairland Dragons lived it.
The Dragons used rock solid line play and let their secondary play on an island to shut down the Zane Trace Pioneers 31-7 in the first round of the Division 5 Region 19 playoffs on Friday.
Fairland head coach Mike Jackson said he knew the Pioneers were run-oriented and he built a game plan to combat that running game.
“Our plan worked. In our game films we had they were like 88 percent tendency to run. We put our DBs on an island most of the game and sold out to stop the run,” Jackson said.
Jackson had high praise for the interior line on both sides of the football. The offensive line features Garrett Cornwell, Dylan Stone, Wyatt Callicoat, Will Callicoat and Brandon Kirk.
The defensive line utilizes Elias Blankenship, Spencer Blevins, Davin Murray, Will Callicoat and Cornwell.
“Our O-line and D-line won the game. They just dominated,” said Jackson. “We had a great week of practice. It might have been our best week of practice all year.”
Dragons’ quarterback Ethan Wall played a full game for the first time since the eighth week of the season. Wall completed 30-of-36 attempts for 304 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Fairland (10-1) had 495 total yards with 191 on the ground led by Lucas Bompus with 87 yards on 8 carries, Quentin Cremeans 54 yards on 10 attempts and Kam Kitts added 38 yards on 7 rushes with a touchdown.
Keegan Smith had 10 receptions for 158 yards and 2 touchdowns as he led 9 different players catch passes. C.J. Graham had 5 catches for 61 yards.
Zane Trace (6-5) was limited to 187 total yards with just 32 yards rushing on 26 carries. Quarterback Gunnar McCollough was 6-of-16 for 155 yards and a TD while Aaden Dunn caught 5 passes for 157 yards and the touchdown.
Fairland scored on the opening drive of the game thanks to a quick out pass to Graham who raced down the sidelines and was tackled at the 4-yard line.
Kitts scored on the next play and Gabe Polcyn’s kick made it 7-0 with 10:23 on the clock.
The Dragons missed out on a chance to score again when Bompus ran 71 yards to the Pioneers 4-yard line only to be stripped of the ball from behind and the football was recovered by Zane Trace in the end zone for a touchback.
A 78-yard, 13-play drive was capped by Cremeans’ 6-yard run with 8:47 left in the half and it was 14-0.
Getting the ball back after forcing a punt, Fairland marched to the 14-yard line in 13 plays only to bog down. On fourth down and 9, Polcyn came on and kicked a 30-yard field goal and it was 17-0 with just 48 seconds left in the half.
Zane Trace failed to convert on a fourth down at the 25-yard line. Fairland then took the ball and drove the field with Ward hitting Smith on a 30-yard scoring pass with 1:46 left in the quarter and it was 24-0.
The Dragons put together another long drive in the fourth quarter by driving 60 yards in 11 plays to score. Wall hit Smith on a 16-yard pass play and Polcyn added the conversion.
The Pioneers avoided the shutout as McCollough hit Dunn with a 68-yard scoring pass on a fourth-and 8 play. Judah Hanks kicked the conversion.
The Dragons will host West Muskingum next Friday in the regional quarterfinals.
Zane Trace 0 0 0 7 = 7
Fairland 7 10 7 7 = 31
First Quarter
Fa — Kam Kitts 4 run (Gabe Polcyn kick) 10:23
Second Quarter
Fa — Quentin Cremeans 6 run (Gabe Polcyn kick) 9:47
Fa — Gabe Polcyn 30 field goal 0:48
Third Quarter
Fa — Keegan Smith 30 pass from Ethan Ward (Gabe Polcyn kick) 1:46
Fourth Quarter
Fa — Keegan Smith 16 pass from Ethan Ward (Gabe Polcyn kick) 7:00
ZT — Aaden Dunn 68 pass from Gunnar McCollough (Judah Hanks kick) 3:07
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ZT Fa
First downs 9 25
Rushes-yards 26-32 33-191
Passing yards 155 304
Total yards 187 495
Cmp-Att-Int 6-17-1 30-36-0
Fumbles-lost 1-0 4-2
Penalties-yards 3-20 4-40
Punts-average 6-34.8 0-00.0
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Individual Leaders
RUSHING—Zane Trace: Silas Stewart 12-24, Jayden Higgins 1-2, Brice Johnson 4-15, Gunnar McCollough 9-minus 9; Fairland: Kam Kits 7-38 TD, Quentin Cremeans 10-53 TD, Jack Hayden 4-minus 2, Ethan Wall 1-6, Lucas Bompus 8-87, Davin Murray 3-9.
PASSING—Zane Trace: Gunnar McCollough 6-16-0 155, Silas Stewart 0-1-1; Fairland: Ethan Wall 30-36-0 304 2-TD.
RECEIVING—Zane Trace: Aaden Dunn 5-157 TD, Mason Hartley 1-minus 2; Fairland: C.J. Graham 5-61, Keegan Smith 10-158 2-TD, Xander Collins 3-19, Kam Kitts 2-17, Quentin Cremeans 3-18, Jack Hayden 3-14, Owen Burcham 1-5, Lucas Bompus 2-25, Davin Murray 1-3.
MISSED FIELD GOALS—None
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