MOBILE, Ala. — The Pirates (7-1 overall, 6-0 in region play) traveled to Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile and beat the Murphy Panthers (3-5) 46-26. The game became out-of-reach for Murphy but they kept giving Fairhope problems.
The game started out with Murphy’s Maurice Robinson throwing an interception by the Pirates’ Brett Howell five plays in. The Panthers did capitalize the following drive and scored on a halfback toss and pass from Lamar Harris to Michael Jefferson for an 80-yard play.
After a long drive from Fairhope, the Pirates scored on a one-yard touchdown run from Wildcat play at the end of the first quarter. Fairhope scored 40-consecutive points after the first score by the Panthers.
Pirates’ quarterback Devin Mitchell passed for 221 yards on 10 completions (out of 18 attempts) for three touchdowns and ran for 52 yards and one touchdown. Mitchell was a great game manager for the Pirates’ offense and his dual-threat ability was efficient against the Panthers’ defense. The offensive line for the Pirates did well pass protecting by not giving up a sack and helped the offense account for 482 total yards against the Murphy defense.
Pirates receiver C.J. Edwards had a huge game for Fairhope as he burned the defensive backs often. Edwards accounted for nine receptions for 232 yards and four touchdowns. One of his touchdowns came from a 43-yard pass from freshman quarterback Riley Leonard late in the third quarter when Mitchell was out for the play with a minor injury.

The Panthers got back into the ball game despite the 40-7 deficit on an 80-yard touchdown play from Robinson to Anthony Miller to make the score 40-13. Mitchell found Christian Sellers for a 4-yard touchdown to make the score 40-20. The Pirates and Panthers continued to exchange touchdowns with Pirates QB Devin Mitchell on a 10-yard touchdown run and Robinson throwing a 53-yard touchdown pass to Michael Jefferson to end the game at 46-26.
The Fairhope defense forced two turnovers and Brayden Howell had five solo tackles and two tackles for loss while Brett Howell accounted for four solo tackles and an interception.

STANDINGS: 7A REGION 1

McGill-Toolen  6-0, 8-0

Fairhope         6-0, 7-1

Davidson        4-2, 5-3

Theodore        3-3, 5-3

Foley              3-3, 4-4

Murphy           3-4, 3-5

Alma Bryant    2-4, 3-5

Baker              1-5, 2-6

Mary G. Mont.  0-7, 0-9