Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

WHEELERSBURG — The Fairland Dragons used their short passing game to nickel-and-dime the Wheelersburg defense and try to keep the ball out of the hands of the Pirates’ offense.
The plan worked for a while, but the Pirates managed to put together a strong second half and post a 30-6 win on Friday.
Wheelersburg threatened to make the game a rout in the first quarter with a pair of touchdowns on their first two possessions.
The Pirates (2-0) went 68 yards in 13 plays — all on the ground — capped by Dominic Reyes 10-yard scoring run with 4:59 on the clock. Jalen Miller kicked the conversion.
After a short Fairland punt, the Pirates went 50 yards in six plays as quarterback Trent Salyers ran 8 yards for the score and it was 14-0 at the 1:33 mark.
Fairland (0-2) drove to the Wheelersburg 5-yard line before a 5-yard penalty and sack left the Dragons with a fourth-and-goal at the 12. Quarterback Joel Lambiotte was sacked for a 2-yard loss and the Pirates had held.
The teams traded punts and then Wheelersburg fumbled the ball away.
Fairland was forced to punt again and Makya Matthews returned the kick 49 yards to the 13-yard line.
But the Pirates was called for procedure penalty and a hold and it was now first down at the 28. There was also a 20-minute injury delay and then heavy rains settled in the rest of the half.
Unable to score, the Pirates called on Miller and he boomed a 43-yard field goal and it was 17-0 with 3:17 to go in the half.
Fairland wasn’t content to sit on the ball and went 77 yards in seven plays culminating with a 38-yard touchdown pass from Lambiotte to Robbie McFarland and it was 17-6 with just 42 seconds left in the half.
The Pirates came out in the second half and went 72 yards in eight plays as Reyes scored from 5 yards out and it was 24-6 at the 9:22 mark.
Following a three-and-out, the Pirates went 68 yards in seven plays as Cole Lowery ran 12 yards for a touchdown and it was 30-6.
Fairland got to the Pirates 25 on a couple of nice receptions by Ty Wilcoxon for 39 yards only to have the drive stalled.
The Pirates took the ball and scored in nine plays with Reyes running 4 yards for his third touchdown and it was 37-6.
Fairland had trouble running the ball with 29 net yards on 26 carries but Lambiotte was 22-of-35 for 207 yards and a touchdown. Wilcoxon caught nine passes for 94 yards and Keedrick Cunningham had 10 receptions for 63 yards.
The Pirates finished with 427 total yards with 288 coming on the ground.
Fairland visits Ironton next Friday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.
Fairland    0    6    0    0    =    6
Wheelersburg    14    3    13    7    =    37
First Quarter
Wh — Dominic Reyes 10 run (Jalen Miller kick) 4:59
Wh — Trent Salyers 8 run (Jalen Miller kick) 1:33
Second Quarter
Wh — Jalen Miller 43 field goal 3:17
Fa — Robbie McFarland 38 pass from Joel Lambiotte (kick failed) 0:42
Third Quarter
Wh — Dominic Reyes 5 run (Jalen Miller kick) 9:22
Wh — Cole Lowery 12 run (kick failed) 6:01
Fourth Quarter
Wh — Dominic Reyes 4 run (Jalen Miller kick) 7:21
——
Fa    Wh
First downs    12    15
Rushes-yards    26-29    41-288
Passing yards    207    139
Total yards    236    427
Cmp-Att-Int    22-35-0    10-16-0
Fumbles-lost    1-0    3-1
Penalties-yards    4-30    5-55
Punts-average     6-28.8    2-54.5
Individual Leaders
RUSHING —Fairland: Chase Fisher 6-20, KeedrickCunningham 9-4, Joel Lambiotte 10-1, Ty Wilcoxon 1-4; Wheelersburg: Dominic Reyes 14-81, Makya Matthews 3-36, Xander Carmichael 2-22, Cole Lowery 6-43, Trent Salyers 10-58, Mack Dyer 3-28, Tanner Holden 1-9, Josh Henderson 1-5, Mason Johnson 1-6.
PASSING — Fairland: Joel Lambiotte 22-35-0 207 TD; Wheelersburg: Trent Salyers 10-16-0 139.
RECEIVING — Fairland: Ty Wilcoxon 9-94, Keedrick Cunningham 10-63, Robbie McFarland 1-38 TE, Reily Sowards 1-13, Chase Fisher 1-minus 1; Wheelersburg: Tanner Holden 4-48, Cole Lowery 4-61, Makya Matthews 1-18, Xander Carmichael 1-12.