Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

WEST PORTSMOUTH — Cullen Homolka can only hope the rest of the games in his career are this good.

Homolka picked up a win in his coaching debut as the Fairland Dragons toppled the Portsmouth West Senators 41-29 Friday.

Triggering the win for the Dragons was junior quarterback Chance Short and defensive end Darren Bishop.

Short operated the no-huddle, spread offense to near perfection as he connected on 25 of 31 passes for 311 yards and five touchdowns. He was intercepted twice.

“We wore them out. That was our goal,” said Homolka. “That’s the benefit of having the offense we have. That up-tempo is to our advantage. They weren’t used to it.”

Fairland built a 28-0 halftime lead and pulled away to a 41-7 lead. Homolka began to substitute, allowing the Senators to get within two touchdowns late.

Homolka was happy to win his debut, but he was far than satisfied.

“It was a good win. If we had played well for four quarters it would have been even better,” said Homolka.

Evan Maddox had eight receptions for 147 yards including a 75-yard score on a screen play, plus a 32-yard run. Kyle Sowards had six catches for 132 yards. Nathan Campbell caught four passes for 69 yards and had an 85-yard punt return.

Bishop led the defense with seven tackles, two assists, two tackles for a loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles, four pressures and one sack that caused a fumble.

Sowards also had five tackles plus a sack, two pressures and a tackle for a loss. Clayton Edmonds had five tackles and five assisted stops,. Derrick Willis six tackles, two assists and a fumble recovery.

Dylan Murphy had two sacks, Zach McKinney 1.5 sacks, and De’Vonte Braye one.

The Dragons had four fumbles recoveries collectively.