By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

WEST PORTSMOUTH — When someone gives you lemons, make lemonade. When a team gives a short field, take it in for a score.

The Portsmouth West Senators had three touchdown drives of less than 50 yards en route to a 43-13 win over the Fairland Dragons on Friday.

“They had a short field all night and that’s not good against a team like West. They’ve got a good team. You can’t give them any help and we did,” said Fairland coach Dave Carroll.

West used a longer drive of 61 yards in five plays to get on the board in the first quarter capped by Kyle Auger’s 27-yard run. Luke Morgan kicked the point after and it was 7-0.

West got the ball back in the second quarter at the 49 and Auger bolted the distance for the score and a 14-0 lead.

Fairland answered with a 73-yard, 3-play drive as Evan Maddox raced 64 yards for the score. Cody Midkiff kicked the conversion and it was 14-7.

But the Dragons couldn’t stop West on the ensuing series as Levi Ratliff’s 3-yard run capped a 46-yard, 4-play drive and it was 21-7 at the break.

“We didn’t block well and we didn’t tackle well. We need to do those things a lot better,” said Carroll.

West built a 28-7 lead in the third quarter on a 31-yard pass from Ratliff to Corey Summers.

The Senators recovered a fumble at the Fairland 37 and five plays later Alec Meeker went 4 yards for the score and a 35-7 lead.

Jimmy Howell’s 11-yard touchdown and conversion run opened up a 43-7 lead.

The Dragons punched in one final score as Nathan Campbell ran 7 yards for a TD with 2:26 to play.

Maddox led the Dragons with 106 yards on nine carries. Campbell added 66 yards on four attempts.

West racked up 386 rushing yards as Adam Bricker ran 17 times for 127 yards and Auger 11 times for 123.

Fairland 0 7 0 6 = 13

Ports. West 7 14 7 15 = 43

First Quarter

PW — Kyle Auger 27 run (Jacob Morgan kick) 1:27

Second Quarter

PW — Kyle Auger 49 run (Jacob Morgan kick) 3:03

Fa — Evan Maddox 64 run (Cody Midkiff kick) 1:42

PW — Levi Ratliff 3 run (Jacob Morgan kick) 1:11

Third Quarter

PW — Corey Summers 31 pass from Levi Ratliff (Jacob Morgan kick) 9:34

Fourth Quarter

PW — Alec Meeker 4 run (Jacob Morgan kick) 11:27

PW — Jimmy Howell 11 run (Howell run) 5:13

Fa — Nathan Campbell 7 run (run failed) 2:26

Fa PW

First downs 7 20

Rushes-yards 35-199 52-386

Passing yards 26 79

Total yards 225 465

Cmp-Att-Int 3-7-0 6-12-1

Fumbles-lost 2-1 1-1

Punts-average 7-25.3 1-43.0

Penalties-yards 1-10 6-30

Individual Leaders

RUSHING— Fairland: Evan Maddox 9-106, Nathan Campbell 4-66, Eric Riley 9-17, Tyree Ceaser 4-16, Kyle Sowards 7-minus 9, Cody Midkiff 1-2, Dylan Murphy 1-1; Portsmouth West: Adam Bricker 17-127, Kyle Auger 11-123, Levi Ratliff 4-8, Alec Meker 2-17, Jimmy Howell 2-23.

PASSING— Fairland: Kyle Sowards 3-7-0 26; Portsmouth West: Levi Ratliff 5-11-1 77, Justin Scott 1-1-0 2.

RECEVING—Fairland: Blaine Fuller 2-23, Eric Riley 1-3; Portsmouth West: Corey Summers 3-56, Phillip Carnes 1-17, Zack Frye 1-4.