Fairland, Lambiotte outscore Bulldogs
Published 2:48 am Saturday, September 1, 2018
![](https://www.irontontribune.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2018/09/Stitt-on-web.jpg)
Fairland Dragons’ running back Michael Stitt (3) races past the outstretch arm of an Athens Bulldogs’ defender during Friday’s game. Fairland beat Athens 35-31. (Kent Sanborn of Southern Ohio Sports Photos)
Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com
PROCTORVILLE — It was quite an air show.
Fairland Dragons’ quarterback Joel Lambiotte and Athens Bulldogs’ quarterback Clay Davis hooked up in an offensive shootout as the Dragons rallied to score late and edge the Bulldogs 35-31 on Friday.
Lambiotte was 20-of-36 for 272 yards and four touchdowns including a 19-yard scoring strike to Gavin Hunt with just 38 seconds to play that gave the Dragons the win.
Lambiotte — who threw two interceptions — now has 10 touchdown passes in two games.
Davis was more than equal to the challenge as he hit 25-of-45 attempts for 277 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran 12 times for 58 yards and a score.
Davis was intercepted three times as both teams had three turnovers.
Davis hit Evan Adams with a 9-yard pass and Rider Stock kicked the conversion for a 7-0 lead.
Fairland (2-0) came right back four minutes later as Michael Stitt shook loose on a 41-yard touchdown run. Alec Bruce kicked the point after.
Davis then ran 4 yards just before the end of the quarter and Athens was up 14-7.
The Dragons tied the game with 4:41 left in the half on a 23-yards Lambiotte pass to Gavin Hunt, the first of three hook-ups between the two.
Athens (1-1) regained the lead on a 31-yard field goal by Rider Stock at the 8:57 mark of the third quarter.
Getting a field goal instead of a touchdown proved to be the difference in the outcome.
Lambiotte hit Hunt on a 7-yard scoring pass with 4:14 on the third quarter clock and Fairland was on top for the first time at 21-17.
The Bulldogs went up 24-21 on an 8-yard Davis-to-Joey Moore pass with 10:32 left.
Lambiotte found Reilly Sowards on an 18-yard scoring pass play and it was 28-24 with 7:46 left.
Athens took its final lead at 31-28 on an 11-yard pass from Davis to Logan Maxfield with just 2:44 to go.
But Lambiotte rallied his team with the game-winning pass to Hunt with 38 seconds to play.
Fairland had 354 total yards and 19 first downs. Athens racked up 386 total yards and had 26 first downs.
Athens 14 0 3 14 = 31
Fairland 7 7 7 14 = 35
First Quarter
Ath — Evan Adams 9 pass from Clay Davis (Rider Stock kick) 8:09
Fa — Michael Stitt 42 run (Alec Bruce kick) 4:37
Ath — Clay Davis 4 run (Rider Stock kick) 1:20
Second Quarter
Fa — Gavin Hunt 23 pass from Joel Lambiotte (Alec Bruce kick) 4:41
Third Quarter
Ath — Rider Stock 31 field goal 8:57
Fa — Gavin Hunt 7 pass from Joel Lambiotte (Alec Bruce kick) 4:14
Fourth Quarter
Ath — Joey Moore 8 pass from Clay Davis (Rider Stock kick) 10:32
Fa — Reilly Sowards 18 pass from Joel Lambiotte (Alec Bruce kick) 7:46
Ath — Logan Maxfield 11 pass from Clay Davis (Rider Stock kick) 2:44
Fa — Gavin Hunt 19 pass from Joel Lambiotte (Alec Bruce kick) 0:38
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Ath Fa
First downs 26 19
Rushes-yards 27-107 27-82
Passing yards 279 272
Total yards 386 354
Cmp-Att-Int 26-47-3 20-36-2
Fumbles-lost 0-0 2-1
Penalties-yards 13-135 7-55
Punts-average 2-31.5 5-25.8
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Individual Leaders
RUSHING —Athens: Clay Davis 12-58 TD, Evan Adams 15-38, Nate Trainer 0-11; Fairland: Michael Stitt 2-42 TD, J.D. Brumfield 6-28, Joel Lambiotte 13-6, Cameron Mayo 5-4, Reilly Sowards 1-2.
PASSING — Athens: Clay Davis 25-45-2 277 3-TD, Joey Moore 1-2-1 2; Fairland: Joel Lambiotte 20-36-2 272 4-TD.
RECEIVING — Athens: Peyton Gail 10-122, Logan Maxfield 5-67 TD, Nate Trainer 6-55, Brayden Markins 2-18, Evan Adams 2-9 TD, Joey Moore 1-8 TD; Fairland: Robbie McFarland 2-82, Reilly Sowards 7-61 TD, Gavin Hunt 7-89 3-TD, Michael Stitt 4-20.