WEST PORTSMOUTH - The early score gets the win.

That was the case Friday night as the Portsmouth West Senators scored three touchdowns in the first quarter and went on to beat the Fairland Dragons 48-6 in the season opener Friday.

"The big thing was three quick scores early and we weren't healthy," Fairland coach Brent Wilcoxon said. "We didn't come to play the first quarter."

The Dragons were without wide receiver Sam Huff, a 1,000-yard receiver last season, and slotback Josh Johnson played early but left due to an injury he sustained in a scrimmage game.

To make up the void, Wilcoxon was forced to start freshman Cole Hatfield.

"We didn't have Sam Huff or Josh Johnson. Josh tried to play, but he couldn't go. Those are our two starting wideouts," Wilcoxon said.

"We had to start a freshman at wideout and corner. We didn't come ready to play the first quarter."

West took a 6-0 lead on an 18-yard run by Sean Bower to cap a 3-play, 35-yard drive.

Jerrod Pendleton returned an interception 18 yards to set up his own 47-yard scoring run on the next play. Mat Auger kicked the conversion and it was 13-0.

After Auger ran back an interception 25 yards, the Senators went to the air for the next score as Austin Seevers hit Auger on a 34-yard touchdown pass and the lead was 20-0.

"We had three missed tackles on the first run, the second one we had. The third one we had only 10 men on the field and they happened to hit the open spot. We gave them three early," Wilcoxon said.

Kyle Ruggles had short touchdown runs in the second and third quarters as West extended its lead to 34-0.

Fairland finally got on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter on a 10-yard pass from Rich Staggs to Will Lively. Adam Fuller had a 31-yard reception to spark the 11-play, 73-yard drive.

Staggs finished the game 11 of 19 for 90 yards but suffered four interceptions.

Adam Fuller ran 14 times for 58 yards to pace the Dragons ground game.

Fairland0006=6

Ports. West207714=48

First Quarter

PW – Sean Bower 18 run (kick failed) 10:10 3-35

PW – Jerrod Pendleton 47 run (Mat Auger kick) 9:01

PW – Mat Auger 34 pass from Austin Seevers (Mat Auger kick) 6:22

Second Quarter

PW – Kyle Ruggles 1 run (Mat Auger kick) 4:00

Third Quarter

PW – Kyle Ruggles 8 run (Mat Auger kick) 3:14

Fourth Quarter

Fa – Will Lively 10 pass from Rick Staggs (pass failed) 11:21

PW – Caleb Staggs 1 run (run failed)

9:13

PW – Thad Staggs 4 run (Travis Journey pass from Alfie Bricker)

5:13

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FaPW

First downs1117

Rushes-yards33-8544-362

Passing yards9052

Total yards175414

Cmp-Att-Int11-19-43-5-0

Fumbles-lost3-02-0

Punts-average6-32.52-45.0

Penalties-yards2-204-25

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING – Fairland: Adam Fuller 14-58, Michael Meachem 7-29, Travis Cardwell 4-16, Nolan Love 1-3, Travis Chaffin 1-3, Tyler Thackston 1-2, Rich Staggs 5-minus 26; Ports. West: Jerrod Pendleton 19-147, Kyle Ruggles 8-69, Caleb Staggs 5-23, Dale Sowards 1-37, Sean Bower 6-22, Austin Seevers 3-16, Alex Bloomfield 1-11, Thad Staggs 1-7.

PASSING – Fairland: Rich Staggs 11-19-4 90; Ports. West: Austin Seevers 3-5-0 52.

RECEIVING – Fairland: Cole Hatfield 5-24, Adam Fuller 3-34, Michael Meachem 1-18, Will Lively 1-10, Michael Lamb 1-4; Ports. West: Mat Auger 2-36, Jerrod Pendleton 1-16.