Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PROCTORVILLE — Let’s air it out.

Both Fairland Dragons’ quarterback Peyton Jackson and Worthington Christian Warriors’ Hobie Raikes were in a passing battle on Saturday in the Division 6 Region 23 quarterfinals.

Jackson didn’t have as many yards but he had the better performance as he sparked the Dragons to a 58-28 romp over the Warriors.

Jackson was 12-of-19 for 269 yards and 5 touchdowns, career highs for yards and TDs.

Zander Schmidt had 5 receptions for 122yards and 2 touchdowns.

Fairland (10-1) finished with 407 total yards with 138 coming on the ground. J.D. Brumfield ran 12 times for 88 yards.

Raikes was 21-of-31 for 348 yards and 2 scores, but he was intercepted 4 times including one that was returned for a touchdown.

The Warriors (8-3) finished with a net rushing of minus 6 yards.

The win means Fairland will face West Jefferson in the regional semifinals at 7 p.m. on Saturday at Chillicothe. The winner will advance to the regional finals.

The game was a see-saw affair in the first quarter as each team scored two touchdowns.

Jackson hit Steeler Leep with a 45-yard scoring pass and Alex Bruce kicked the first of 8 conversions and it was 7-0.

Raikes hit Joshua Carrell with a 28-yard scoring pass and Grant Woodfin’s kick tied the game.

Fairland came right back to take a 14-7 lead as Jackson and Schmidt teamed up on a 39-yard scoring pass.

Raikes went deep as he hit Correll Amsbaugh with a 55-yard TD pass and the game was even again.

But he who lives by the pass, dies by the pass as Schmidt picked off a Raikes’ pass deep in Warriors’ territory and returned it 12 yards for a touchdown and the Dragons took the lead for good at 21-14.

Jackson and Schmidt clicked on a 65-yard touchdown pass and the lead was 28-14 before the half.

Each team scored in the third quarter as Brycen Hunt caught a 45-yard scoring pass from Jackson and it was 35-14.

The Warriors came back with an 11-yard TD pass from Raikes to Ethan Albert to cut the deficit to 35-21.

But then came a key sequence as the Dragons tackled Raikes in the end zone for a safety to make it 37-21 and on the ensuing free kick Hunt ran 40 yards for a touchdown and it was 44-21.

The Dragons extended the lead to 51-21 on a 33-yard run by Kam Kitts and Jackson teamed up with Zion Martin on a 21-yard scoring play for a 58-21 lead.

The Warriors closed out the scoring on a 5-yard TD run by Tyler White.

Wrth. Christian 14 0 7 7 = 28

Fairland 14 14 7 23 = 58

First Quarter

Fa – Steeler Leep 45 pass from Peyton Jackson (Alex Bruce kick)

WC – Joshua Carrel 28 pass from Hobie Raikes (Grant Woodfin kick)

Fa – Zander Schmidt 39 pass from Peyton Jackson (Alex Bruce kick)

WC – Correll Amsbaugh 55 pass from Hobie Raikes (Grant Woodfin kick)

Second Quarter

Fa – Zander Schmidt 12 interception return (Alex Bruce kick)

Fa – Zander Schmidt 65 pass from Peyton Jackson (Alex Bruce kick)

Third Quarter

Fa – Brycen Hunt 45 pass from Peyton Jackson (Alex Bruce)

WC – Ethan Albert 11 pass from Hobie Raikes (Grant Woodfin kick)

Fourth Quarter

Fa – Safety (Raikes tackled in end zone)

Fa – Brycen Hunt 40 kickoff reutn (Alex Bruce kick)

Fa – Kam Kitts 33 run (Alex Bruce kick)

Fa – Zion Martin 21 pass from Peyton Jackson (Alex Bruce kick)

WC – Tyler White 5 run (Grant Woodfin kick)

—-—————

WC Fa

First downs 8 10

Rushes-yards 21-(-6) 18-138

Passing yards 348 269

Total yards 342 407

Cmp-Att-Int 21-31-4 12-19-0

Fumbles-lost 5-1 1-1

Penalties-yards 7-43 6-65

Punts-average 4-32.0 4-31.7

—-—————

Individual Leaders

RUSHING — Worthington Christian: Joshua Carrel 2-, Hobie Raikes 17-minus 13, Tyler White 1-5, Luke Hermiz 1-0; Fairland: J.D. Brumfield 12-88, Peyton Jackson 5-17, Kam Kitts 1-33 TD.

PASSING — Worthington Christian: Hobie Raikes 21-31-4 348 2TD; Fairland: Peyton Jackson 12-19-0 269 5TD.

RECEIVING — Worthington Christian: Elijah Alt 5-82, Corell Amsbaugh 3-71 TD, Joshua Carrel 2-49 TD, Ethan Albert 11-146; Fairland: J.D. Brumfield 3-20, Steeler Leep 1-45 TD, Zander Schmidt 5-122 2TD, Brycen Hunt 2-61 TD, Zion Martin 1-21 TD.