Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

COAL GROVE — Stitt was it.
With the game tied at halftime, the Fairland Dragons turned to senior running back Michael Stitt and he didn’t disappoint.
Stitt ran 13 times for 173 yards and scored two of his three touchdowns in the second half as Fairland pulled away from the Coal Grove Hornets 27-12 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Friday.
The Dragons (5-4, 3-3) had 282 total yards with 232 coming on the ground. J.D. Brumfield added 41 yards on eight attempts while quarterback Max Ward was 3-0f-8 passing for 50 yards.
Coal Grove (2-7, 1-4) outgained the Dragons with 319 total yards and ran the ball a staggering 61 times for 272 yards.
Austin Stapleton had 94 yards on 19 carries, Austin Stormes 64 yards on 12 attempts, Malachia Wheeler 50 yards on 10 tries and Trey Hunt 48 yards on eight rushes for the Hornets.
Stitt’s first touchdown was a 47-yard pass play in the first quarter that made it 6-0.
The Hornets tied the game on their own pass play as Cory Borders hit the versatile Stormes with an 18-yard scoring strike.
Stitt took over in the third quarter as he got loose on scoring runs of 39 and 42 yards. He also ran for the conversion.
Coal Grove closed the gap to 20-12 on a 4-yard run by Wheeler, but Stitt sealed the win with a 17-yard scoring run and Emma Marshall added the conversion kick.
Fairland host arch-rival Chesapeake next Friday and needs a win to keep its playoff hopes alive. Coal Grove visits Rock Hill in its finale.
Fairland 6 0 14 7 = 27
Coal Grove 0 6 0 6 = 12
First Quarter
Fa — Reilly Sowards 47 pass from Max Ward (kick failed)
Second Quarter
CG — Austin Stormes 18 pass from Cory Borders (kick failed)
Third Quarter
Fa — Michael Stitt 39 run (Stitt run)
Fa — Michael Stitt 42 run (run failed)
Fourth Quarter
CG — Malachi Wheeler 4 run (run failed)
Fa — Michael Stitt 17 run (Emma Marshall kick)
—————
Fa CG
First downs 10 23
Rushes-yards 25-232 61-272
Passing yards 50 47
Total yards 282 319
Cmp-Att-Int 3-8-0 3-17-1
Fumbles-lost 1-1 2-1
Penalties-yards 2-22 2-7
Punts-average 2-31.7 2-39.5
Individual Leaders
RUSHING —Fairland: Michael Stitt 13-173, J.D. Brumfield 8-41, Tevin Taylor 2-16, Max Ward 1-1, Gavin Hunt 1-1; Coal Grove: Austin Stapleton 19-96, Austin Stormes 12-64, Malachi Wheeler 10-50, Trey Hunt 8-48, Joe Abrams 1-18, Justin Hicks 2-9, Clay Ferguson 1-minus 5, Cory Borders 7-minus 15.
PASSING — Fairland: Max Ward 3-8-0 50; Coal Grove: Cory Borders 3-17-1 47.
RECEIVING — Fairland: Reilly Sowards 2-46, Gavin Hunt 1-4; Coal Grove: Malachi Wheeler 1-22, Austin Stormes 1-18, Trey Hunt 1-7.