To be able to keep up with the high-flying Fairland offense, the opposing teams know that they either have to play keep away with a ground game or just keep scoring.

South Point was able to do both, as the Pointers ground attack amassed 395 yards on 53 carries en route to a 39-34 shootout win over the Fairland Dragons in a pivotal Ohio Valley Conference game.

Fairland turned a five point deficit into a three point lead early in the fourth quarter when Cole Hatfield found Aaron Ward for a 10 yard touchdown, and Tyler Duty ran in the conversion to give the Dragons a 28-25 lead with 9:05 to go in the game.

However, South Point (4-4, 2-1) answered right back on the ensuing possession when on the fourth play of the drive, Jacob Seagraves took the snap and raced 69 yards to give the Pointers the lead back at 31-28 with 6:54 to go. Seagraves finished with 163 yards on 16 carries with three touchdowns.

“We were very impressed with Fairland’s ball club, but our kids were able to dig down and make some plays late to win the ball game,” South Point coach Doug Shilot said. “We were able to execute well on offense at times tonight.”

After a Fairland (2-5, 2-1) turnover on downs, South Point extended the lead when Ryan Plants scored from 16 yards out. Seagraves found Casey West for the two-point conversion to give the Pointers a 39-28 lead with 1:20 to go. The key play on the drive was a Seagraves run of 37 yards on third and ten. Plants finished the game with 122 yards on 12 carries and two touchdowns.

“When it came down to crunch time, we didn’t tackle when we had to” Fairland coach Roger Snyder said. “It was a well played and even game tonight, but South Point did not have any turnovers and we had one.” “I thought was an even played game, and Seagraves was the difference tonight.”

Fairland was not done, as Blayne Cornwell rumbled 50 yards on a fourth down play. The two-point try was no good and the score was 39-34 with :07 showing on the clock.

The Dragons tried an onside kick, but the Pointers were able to recover and run out the final seconds.

“Tonight, either team could have won this ball game, and that was the same last week; but we were able to correct the mistakes we made,” Shilot said.

Fairland (2-5) got on the board first when Matt Bloomfield capped a 10-play, 91-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown. The extra point was no good and the Dragons led 6-0 with 7:44 to go in the first.

Fairland’s defense forced a punt, but a roughing the punter penalty allowed the South Point drive to continue.

Eight plays later, Seagraves found the end zone from 4 yards out. Drew Lynd added the extra point, and the Pointers took the lead at 7-6 with 2:38 to go.

The drive, in all, covered 74 yards in 12 plays.

After a Fairland punt and a South Point turnover on downs, Chase Woodson provided the Pointers with the first of his two momentum swinging plays when he intercepted Hatfield. Three plays later, Ryan Plants raced down the sideline for a 38-yard score. The extra point was no good and the score was 13-6 with 3:47 to go in the half.

On the ensuing possession, South Point forced Fairland to punt. Then, Woodson made the second play when he returned the punt 56 yards to the Fairland 14-yard line.

Controversy ensued as a Fairland player appeared to down the punt at the South Point 30. However, the ball did not come to a rest and Woodson picked up the ball and raced down the sideline.

An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty moved the ball to the 7, and Seagraves rumbled off right tackle to give the Pointers a 19-6 with 1:42 to go in the half.

Fairland cut into the lead going into the break when Hatfield weaved his way through the Pointers defense for a 34 yard score to pull the Dragons within 19-12 at the half.

South Point (4-4) looked to extend the lead coming out of halftime and moved to the Dragons 18, but faced a fourth-and-three. Chase Kratzenberg found Greg Taylor who was able to break free from two Fairland defenders for the score. The conversion was no good and South Point led 25-12 with 8:31 to go in the third.

After both teams traded punts, Fairland cut into the South Point lead when Hatfield found Chad Fisher on fourth down for a 40-yard scoring play. Nathan Burcham added the extra point and the score was 25-20 with 1:35 to go in the quarter.

Hatfield finished 11-of-16 passing with 187 yards and two touchdowns. He also added 41 yards on seven carries with a score.

Doug Dillon had 49 yards on 14 carries, and Chase Kratzenberg added 47 yards on 8 carries along with 18 yards on 1-3 passing with a touchdown for the Pointers.

Matt Bloomfield led the Fairland rushing attack with 101 yards on 11 carries with a touchdown, and Blayne Cornwell added 71 yards on 12 and a touchdown. Chad Fisher had 76 yards on 4 receptions with a score.

Both teams are still alive in the race for at least a share of the conference championship, as both teams are now 2-1 in the conference.

South Point 7 12 6 14 = 39

Fairland 6 6 8 14 = 34

First Quarter

Fa – Matt Bloomfield 5 run (kick failed) 7:44

SP – Jacob Seagraves 4 run (Drew Lynd kick) 2:38

Second Quarter

SP – Ryan Plants 38 run (kick failed) 3:47

SP – Jacob Seagraves 7 run (run failed) 1:42

Fa – Cole Hatfield 34 run (Nathan Burcham kick) 1:06

Third Quarter

SP – Greg Taylor 18 pass from Chase Kratzenberg (run failed) 8:31

Fa – Chad Fisher 40 pass from Cole Hatfield (Burcham kick) 1:35

Fourth Quarter

Fa – Aaron Ward 10 pass from Cole Hatfield (Tyler Duty run) 9:05

SP – Jacob Seagraves 69 run (kick failed) 6:54

SP – Ryan Plants 16 run (Casey West pass from Seagraves) 1:20

Fa – Blayne Cornwell 50 run (run failed) :07

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SP Fa

First downs 19 16

Rushes-yards 53-395 32-218

Passing yards 18 187

Total yards 413 405

Cmp-Att-Int 1-3-0 11-16-1

Penalties-yards 3-15 4-32

Punts-average 2-24.0 3-31.0

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING–South Point: Jacob Seagraves 16-163, Ryan Plants 12-122, Doug Dillon 14-49, Chase Kratzenburg 8-47, Chase Woodson 3-14; Fairland: Matt Bloomfield 11-101, Blayne Cornwell 12-71, Cole Hatfield 7-41, Tyler Duty 1-3, Chad Fisher 1-2.

PASSING–South Point: Chase Kratzenberg 1-3-0 18; Fairland: Cole Hatfield 11-16-1 187.

RECEIVING–South Point: Greg Taylor 1-18; Fairland: Chad Fisher 4-76, Aaron Ward 4-46 TD, Tyler Duty 1-39, Kyle Lawhorn 1-21, Matt Bloomfield 1-5.