Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PEDRO — Chance Short made sure his Fairland Dragons didn’t fall short of their goal.

The Fairland senior quarterback threw for three touchdowns as the Dragons held on to edge the Rock Hill Redmen 21-19 Friday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

It marked the first win of the season for the Dragons who are 1-7 overall and 1-2 in the OVC.

Rock Hill fell to 2-6 and 1-2. Despite dressing only 22 players, the Redmen had 396 total yards and a final drive to the Fairland 16 ended with a quarterback sack with 30 seconds to play.

“We were a play or two short,” said Rock Hill coach Todd Knipp. “We played well. Danny (Long) played well for us.

“We executed pretty well offensively and the defense cut down their big plays for the most part. Fairland would move the ball at times but we’d find a way to stop them. But they have a nice team and they’re hard to stop.”

The Redmen ran the ball 63 times for 340 yards. Brady Knipp led a trio of running backs with 23 carries for 130 yards and a score.

Danny Long — converted from guard to fullback this week due to an injury to Shawn Wilds — ran 20 times for 114 yards and a touchdown. Wingback Drew McClaskey had 15 carries for 85 yards and a score.

Quarterback Gabe Marzicola was 6 of 13 passing for 56 yards to give Rock Hill 396 total yards. He also ran five times for 11 yards.

Austin Collins had three receptions for 38 yards. Knipp had two catches for 13 yards.

Fairland got a 15-yard scoring pass to Collin Damron to make it 7-0 in the first quarter. Damron also added the conversion.

Rock Hill answered with a 12-yard scoring run by McClaskey and it was 7-6.

The Dragons took a 14-6 lead in the second quarter when Short threw an 8-yard strike to Austin Christian.

An interception by Brady Knipp at the 4-yard line led to a 96-yard scoring drive by Rock Hill.

Long ran 5 yards for the score and Rock Hill cut the deficit to 14-12 in the third quarter.

Fairland came back in the fourth quarter to make it 21-12 on a 57-yard screen pass to Nathan Campbell.

Brady Knipp’s 7-yard scoring run with four minutes left and Cameron Barnett’s conversion kick got the Redmen within 21-19.

Rock Hill got the ball back at its own 16 with two minutes left and drove to the Fairland 16 where the fourth down sack ended the drive and sealed the Dragons’ first win.

Fairland 7 7 0 7 = 21

Rock Hill 6 0 6 7 = 19

First Quarter

Fa — Collin Damron 15 pass from Chance Short (Damron kick)

RH — Drew McClaskey 12 run (kick failed)

Second Quarter

Fa — Austin Christian 8 pass from Chance Short (Collin Damron kick)

Third Quarter

RH — Danny Long 5 run (pass failed)

Fourth Quarter

Fa — Nathan Campbell 57 pass from Chance Short

RH — Brady Knipp 7 run (Cameron Barnett kick)