Sholten Singer/The Herald-Dispatch FairlandÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s C.J. Graham (22) speeds up field against Douglass Cammack in the Turf Bowl C Championship game on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, at Joan C. Edwards Stadium in Huntington.
FairlandÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Garrett Cornwell (70) returns to the sideline as the Fairland High School football team prepares to take on Ironton on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, in Rome Township, Ohio.
Sholten Singer/The Herald-Dispatch FairlandÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s C.J. Graham (22) speeds up field against Douglass Cammack in the Turf Bowl C Championship game on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, at Joan C. Edwards Stadium in Huntington.
FairlandÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Garrett Cornwell (70) returns to the sideline as the Fairland High School football team prepares to take on Ironton on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, in Rome Township, Ohio.
ROME TOWNSHIP, Ohio ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” C.J. Graham doesnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t like to share.
The Fairland High School senior isnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t rude. He just likes winning. The Dragons (9-1 overall, 5-0 in the Ohio Valley Conference) clinched at least a tie for the league title Friday with a 38-8 victory over Coal Grove at Jim Mayo Memorial Stadium. Fairland can secure the title outright if it wins FridayÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s 7 p.m. home game with arch-rival Chesapeake (5-4, 2-3).
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œIt feels good, but you have to win it,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Graham said of the outright title. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œItÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s no fun to tie. You canÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t lose to them.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
The Dragons havenÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t lost to the Panthers since 2016. Fairland coach Mike Jackson would like to extend the winning serries winning streak to eight games.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe clinched a tie for the league enough points for at least one playoff game, but weÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re only halfway there,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Jackson said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œLetÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s get that outright OVC. We havenÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t done that in 11 years. Hopefully, we can be in a good enough spot to have two home playoff games.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
The Dragons are second in Division V, Region 19, behind Ironton. The top 16 teams qualify for the playoffs, the top eight earning home games in the first round. The way the standings are now, No. 15 Coal Grove would be back at Fairland top open the postseason.
The Hornets entertain Rock Hill (7-2, 3-2) at 7 p.m. Friday. The Redmen are seventh in Division VI, Region 24.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe only have four seniors,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Coal Grove coach Lucas said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œTheyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re really good kids and have helped us out a lot. WeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re starting a couple of freshmen and a lot of sophomores. When youÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re doing that and playing a good football team sometimes things get tough. WeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ll be all right. We just have to keep fighting.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
The Panthers also are looking at the playoffs. Chesapeake is 12th in Division VI, Region 24.
Fairland won Friday despite playing without some key players, including senior quarterback Ethan Wall. Jack Hayden filled in and completed 13 of 22 passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran 20 yards for a score.
Jackson said his team is getting healthier.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œEthan has a chance to be back,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Jackson said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œFor sure by the playoffs heÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ll be back.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Jackson said kicker Gabe Polcyn also might be back soon. He and Aiden Miller have handling kicking duties, but both have been injured the last three weeks, forcing the Dragons to go for two-point conversions after each touchdown and eliminating any chance of field goals.
Jackson said heÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ll take any players he can get against Chesapeake.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œIÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™m sure itÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ll be another smash-mouth football game with them trying to run down our throats,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Jackson said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe need to have a good week of practice.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
