Fairhope 30, Baker 25

Pirates improve to 5-1 with big region win over Hornets

Patrick Herring, GCM Sports
Posted 10/9/18

The Pirates' regional contest had significant playoff implications with Fairhope nearly post season eligible and looking to improve their record and Baker trying to get a second regio

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Fairhope 30, Baker 25

Pirates improve to 5-1 with big region win over Hornets

Posted

FAIRHOPE, Ala. -- The Fairhope Pirates' regional contest had significant playoff implications with Fairhope nearly post season eligible and looking to improve their record and Baker trying to get a second region win under their belts to salvage any hope of playing extra games. Unfortunately for the visitors, Fairhope took home a hard-fought 30-25 victory.

In a game that featured numerous big plays from both offenses, the Pirates senior backfield duo of Devin Mitchell at quarterback and Damell Bell at tailback made just enough explosive plays to lead their team to victory with each scoring a pair of touchdowns.

Mitchell threw for 205 yards on 7-of-14 passing with two touchdowns, both of which came from 76 yards out. Bell finished with 75 yards and his two scores of two and 32 yards.

Baker came out firing when running back Joshua Pruitt took a handoff on the second play of the game and scampered 75 yards to the house to quiet a raucous Pirate crowd and give the Hornets a 7-0 lead. Pruitt had a huge night on the ground, finishing with 180 yards and the touchdown on 26 carries.

The Hornets tacked on a field goal to take a 10-0 lead before Mitchell made his first huge play on the 76-yard touchdown pass to Ramone Bradley. With the extra point, the lead was cut to three.

On the Pirates’ next drive, the officials inexplicably flagged Mitchell for intentional grounding in the end zone, although he appeared to be outside the end zone and his receiver was only inches from catching the pass while the quarterback was being taken down. The safety stretched the Hornet lead to 12-7 near the end of the first quarter.

Apparently the “safety” lit a fire under head coach Tim Carter’s team as they reeled off three unanswered touchdowns to take a 27-12 lead midway through the third quarter. Bell’s two touchdowns sandwiched Mitchell’s 76-yard scoring toss to Riley Leonard.

Tthe Hornets never lost any of their tenacity attempting a comeback. Coby Bush scored a 3-yard rushing touchdown early in the first quarter to cut the lead to 27-19.

Fairhope answered with a Sam Rayborn field goal from 45 yards to make it a two-score game at 30-19.

The Hornets could only muster one more score when quarterback Nicholas Summerlin ran it in from the 1-yard line to cut the lead to five. The two-point attempt failed, as did their onside kick try.

Fairhope moves to 5-2, 4-1 and will travel to play Foley this Friday. Baker falls to 2-4, 1-3 and will host Bryant.