Tyler Harris, Staff Writer

Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
PROCTORVILLE — Just three weeks ago, Fairland handed Portsmouth a 16-point loss.
So after Friday’s result, it’s fair to say that the Trojans pulled off an improbable upset over the No. 2 seeded Dragons.
Portsmouth traveled to Proctorville and returned the favor, beating Fairland when it mattered most by a 50-38 final in a Division V, Region 19 first-round game.

CREDIT: Baylee Harris/SOSA
And the Trojans (6-5) did it their way.
“The difference this week from the first time we played them is we trusted our game plan,” Portsmouth coach Bruce Kalb said. “We know we’re strong and physical up front and we have a heck of a running back. We never hit that panic button and stayed with the game plan. We believed in ourselves and our preparation, and it worked tonight.”
The Trojans never went away from what they’ve done well all season, which is run the football, run it a lot and run hard. Spearheaded by Chase Heiland’s monster night — yet another one — the Trojans eventually wore down Fairland’s front seven.
The game started like a snoozer for eights minutes with only three points scored in favor of the Dragons. But Portsmouth finally broke the seal towards the end of the first quarter when freshman quarterback Camron Williams scampered into the end zone from 18 yards out to make it 7-3.
The Dragons responded as they’ve done all year — quickly, efficiently and through the air — with four pass plays that resulted in Peyton Jackson finding Christian Collins in the back of the end zone for a 20-yard score, making it 10-7, Dragons.
The second quarter contained more fireworks.
Portsmouth settled for a field goal after a drive stalled out at the goal line, forcing a 10-10 tie. Jackson went right back to work for the Dragons, surgically carving up the Trojans’ defense before he found running back Quentin Cremeans all alone for a 26-yard touchdown, making it a one-score game again at 17-10.
The teams then traded blows to end the half. Heiland scored his first touchdown from 10 yards out and Collins raced 68 yards for a kick-return touchdown. When the dust settled, it was Fairland in control, 25-18, at halftime.
As the second half got underway, it looked like it was time for one team to pull away when Fairland took a two-score lead on a 51-yard house call by way of Jackson to Brycen Hunt, pushing the lead to 32-18.
But as they stared across the stadium, at a raucous crowd, and at a team that had dispatched them three weeks ago, trailing by two scores, Kalb’s group didn’t flinch.
They continued to turn to their bread and butter and their bell cow to get things done. Heiland made light work of Fairland’s defense, a unit that was starting to wear down, when he galloped 47 yards to pay dirt, closing the gap to 32-25.
“He has worked so hard since last year,” Kalb said about his running back. “He’s been committed since last November to get where he needed to be. His work ethic has translated to the team. He carries the ball a lot, but he knows this is what it takes to be a great running back.”
The entire stadium was starting to feel the belief spilling onto Portsmouth’s sideline as the team’s physicality was wearing on the opponent. The defense finally got the stop they needed to seize momentum when a fourth down snap sailed over Jackson’s head and gave the Trojans the ball and a chance at the lead.
With just 13 seconds left in the third, Portsmouth’s freshman signal caller made his mark in the biggest moment of his life, taking a 23-yard carry over the goal line to make it a one-point game at 32-31 heading into the fourth.
The Dragons’ offense sputtered again, turning it over on downs to begin the final 12 minutes and Williams made them pay, scoring his third touchdown, on a career night, and giving Portsmouth back the lead at 37-32 with 9:43 remaining.
“We wanted to play to his strengths tonight and that is his legs,” Kalb said of his quarterback. “When you have a running quarterback, it puts pressure on defenses and he keeps them guessing. So in the second half, we came out and just let him run the ball right at them.”
With all their firepower, the Dragons weren’t going away that easily. Jackson connected again with Christian Collins for a 10-yard strike, regaining the lead at 38-37 with just under seven minutes to play.
After recovering an onside kick, the Trojans went back to the basics, feeding Heiland. The junior running back took a grown-man run for a 35-yard score, putting the Trojans back on top, 43-38.

CREDIT: Baylee Harris/SOSA
Defense may have been optional all night, but Portsmouth’s came up with a stop in the biggest moment of the game. Noah Livingston picked off an errant pass and set his team up for another punishing drive.
This time, it wasn’t big runs, it was simple, hard-nosed football, thanks to the big boys up front: Dylan Sanderlin, Landon Boren, Bubba Fletcher, Leo Poxes and Wesley Runyon. That unit paved the way for Heiland’s fourth score, rounding out the 50-38 final.
Statistically, the Trojans were led by Heiland ,who had 44 totes for 359 yards and four scores, followed by Williams, who carried the ball 14 times for 112 yards and three touchdowns.
The Dragons’ Jackson led the way offensively, completing 24-of-40 passes for 305 yards with four scoring tosses. Hunt had a game-high 10 receptions for 150 yards and touchdown, and Collins hauled in five balls for 75 yards and two scores alongside a 68-yard kick return touchdown.
Fairland ends the season at 9-2 with a second place finish in the OVC. Portsmouth advances to play Wheelersburg on the road next week at Ed Miller Stadium.
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