By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

WHEELERSBURG — You need something sharp to cut up an opponent’s defense, and the Wheelersburg Pirates had the Shears to do it.

Pirates’ quarterback Alex Shears was 11 of 18 passing for 183 yards and three touchdowns and also ran for two scores as Wheelersburg beat the stubborn Fairland Dragons 40-17 on Friday.

The Pirates gained the early momentum when Mark O’Brien blocked a punt on the first series of the game and gained possession at the 17.

Two incompletions and a 5-yard penalty pushed the ball back to the 22, but then Shears hit Brett Hood with a 22-yard touchdown pass and a 7-0 lead.

Fairland (1-3) came back to get within 7-3 on a 27-yard field goal by Nathan Campbell.

The Pirates (3-1) went up 21-3 on a 1-yard scoring run by O’Brien and a 19-yard keeper by Shears.

The Dragons then drove 55 yards capped by Tyree Ceasar’s 1-yard run and Cody Midkiff’s kick to cut the deficit to 21-10.

Wheelersburg answered quickly as Shears hit Eddie Miller with a 65-yard touchdown pass on the first play following the ensuing kickoff and it was 27-10.

Miller finished with four catches for 130 yards.

Fairland was threatening to score again but a drive just before the half ended on an interception by Miller.

Shears scored on a 14-yard run to put the lead at 34-10 but the Dragons wouldn’t quit as they came right back to score on a 12-yard run by Campbell and it was 34-17.

But the Pirates sealed the outcome with 5:55 to go as Shears hooked up with Dylan Miller on an 8-yard TD pass.

Fairland 3 7 7 0 = 17

Wheelersburg 7 20 7 6 = 40

First Quarter

Wh – Brett Hood 22 pass from Alex Shears (Eddie Miller kick) 9:38

Fa – Nathan Campbell 24 field goal 2:41

Second Quarter

Wh – Mark O’Brien 2 run (Eddie Miller kick) 11:39

Wh – Alex Shears 19 run (Eddie Miller kick) 5:56

Fa – Tyree Ceasar 1 run (Cody Midkiff kick) 2:41

Wh – Eddie Miller 65 pass from Alex Shears (kick failed) 2:20

Third Quarter

Wh – Alex Shears 14 run (Eddie Miller kick) 9:33

Fa – Nathan Campbell 12 run (Cody Midkiff kick) 3:25

Fourth Quarter

Wh – Dylan Miller 8 pass from Alex Shears (kick failed) 5:55

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Fa Wh

First downs 15 18

Rushes-yards 39-142 37-179

Passing yards 34 183

Total yards 176 362

Cmp-Att-Int 4-7-2 11-15-0

Fumbles-lost 0-0 0-0

Penalties-yards 7-65 10-71.5

Punts-average 3-31.0 2-25.0

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING– Fairland: Nathan Campbell 11-55, Eric Riley 14-54, Tyree Ceasar 11-40, Kyle Sowards 3-minus 7; Wheelersburg: Alex Shears 15-101, Mark O’Brien 16-56, Dylan Miller 2-15, Brett Hood 2-6, Eddie Miller 1-5, Austin Hall 1-mius 4.

PASSING– Fairland: Kyle Sowards 4-7-2 34; Wheelersburg: Alex Shears 11-15-0 183.

RECEIVING– Fairland: Blaine Fuller 3-33, Cody Midkiff 1-1; Wheelersburg: Eddie Miller 5-141, Brett Hood 2-22, Dylan Miller 10-13, Derek Arthur 2-7.