Late score rallies West past Dragons, 15-14
Published 12:07 am Sunday, August 30, 2009
WEST PORTSMOUTH — Just when it looked like the Fairland Dragons would bask in the glow of an upset win, Trevon Pendleton dulled the situation.
Pendleton ran for two second half touchdowns including a 48-yard gallop with 3:49 to play that rallied the Portsmouth West Senators to a 15-14 win over the upset-minded Dragons Friday in the season opener.
The game was a tale of two halves for the Dragons who led 14-0 at the break but were outgained 152-2 net yards in the second half and did not reach West territory until less than seven minutes remained.
The heartbreaking loss spoiled the head coaching debut of Fairland’s Dave Carroll.
“Portsmouth West just came out in the second half and whipped us. That’s the bottom line. They came out and did what they had to do to win,” said Carroll.
Chad Fisher threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Taubenheim in the first quarter and ran for the conversion to make it 8-0.
Fisher came back to hook up with Matt Bloomfield on a 78-yard scoring pass play that opened up a 14-0 lead in the second quarter.
Things changed in the third quarter as West gained the momentum on a 30-yard scoring run by Pendleton. He also ran for the conversion and it was 14-8.
In the fourth quarter, West went 85 yards in just four plays in the deciding scoring drive. Pendleton’s run tied the game and Kyle Auger kicked the winning extra point.
“We did everything wrong you could possibly imagine and somehow we still won,” said West coach Merril Triplett. “We had seven sophomores playing on either side of the ball and it showed. There’s a lot we can learn from this game.”
Fisher finished 8-of-13 for 139 yards but had just one passing yard in the second half. Bloomfield caught two passes for 94 yards.
Pendleton ran 20 times for 137 yards and Mark Murphy added 74 yards on 18 carries for the Senators.
Fairland 8 6 0 0 = 14
Ports. West 0 0 8 7 = 15
First Quarter
Fa — Kyle Taubenheim 25 pass from Chad Fisher (Fisher run)
Second Quarter
Fa — Matt Bloomfield 78 pass from Chad Fisher (kick failed)
Third Quarter
PW — Trevon Pendleton 30 run (Pendleton run)
Fourth Quarter
PW — Trevon Pendleton 48 run (Kyle Auger kick) 3:49
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Individiual Leaders
RUSHING—Fairland: Chad Fisher 16-24, Matt Bloomfield 6-11, Tanner Sowards 1-6, Tyler Duty 1-minus 2; West: Trevon Pendleton 20-137, Mark Murphy 18-74, Kyle Locher 3-12, Jerrod Bricker 2-8, Alex Thompson 1-3, Levi Ratliff 5-minus 7.
PASSING—Fairland: Chad Fisher 8-13-0 139; West: Kyle Locher 1-2-0 11, Levi Ratliff 1-5-0 6.
RECEIVING—Fairland: Matt Bloomfield 2-94, Kyle Taubenheim 2-34, Tyler Duty 2-8, Blaine Fuller 1-2, Dillard 1-1; West: Jerrod Bricker 1-11, Adam Bricker 1-6.