FAIRHOPE, Alabama — The Fairhope Pirates overcame a 14-0 deficit to tie the score in the third quarter, but fell short of getting their first win of the season in a 17-14 loss to 7A Region 1 rival Mary Montgomery Friday night on W.C. Majors Field at Fairhope Municipal Stadium.

“Our players have nothing to be ashamed of and I am extremely proud of them,” said Fairhope Head Coach Tim Carter. “They’ve fought hard and never gave up. We just can’t seem to catch the breaks.”

After giving up a touchdown on the Vikings first possession of the game, the Fairhope defense stiffened, not allowing another score in the first half, including getting a turnover on downs deep in Pirate territory and an interception from Ty’ron Willis on their next possession from the Fairhope 22.

The Vikings took a 7-0 lead at halftime, then scored again early in the third quarter to take a 14-0 lead.

Devon Kee then recovered dribbler to start the drive at the Pirate 29 and Fairhope converted a fourth-and-1 with a two-yard reverse run by Tanner Deeds. Runs of eight and three yards by Darnell Bell put the Pirates near midfield before Bell broke free for a 41-yard run, taking the ball all the way to the MGM 8.

After a pair of runs by Michael Colclasure, quarterback Chad “Dylan” Casstevens hit Deeds in the endzone for a five-yard strike and Cole Deeds booted the extra point to cut the lead to 14-7 with 4:07 to play in the third quarter.

Penalties back the Vikings up all the way back to inside their own 5-yard-line and a 12-yard run on third down was still short of a first, giving the ball back to the Pirates, who marched 64 yards in five plays, aided by MGM penalties to knot the score with just over a minute to go in the third quarter.

Casstevens connected with Devin Mitchell to start the drive, then a three-yard run by Bell gave the Pirates a first down near midfield.

After getting backed up by a penalty, a pass interference penalty by the Vikings put the ball across midfield to the 43. Casstevens then raced for 21 yards, which garnered another first down, even after a Pirate penalty pushed the ball back to the 32.

It would not matter as Bell took the ball in from there and Cole Deeds tacked on the extra point to tie the score with 1:02 to play in the third.

Mary Montgomery took back the lead to start the fourth quarter, going 66 yards in eight plays, but the Vikings would have to settle for three after Wes Baumhower sacked quarterback Cullen O’shea, then O’shea’s pass into the endzone was almost intercepted by Terrance Gray.

A reverse run by Orlando Doss was stopped short of a first down by Troy Odom and the Vikings had to settle for a 25-yard fieldgoal with 10:02 to go in the game.

Mary Montgomery kicked off from the 45 after a Pirate penalty on the fieldgoal try, but another onside kick attempt was foiled by Connor Bradford, returning the ball to the Pirate 41.

Runs by Bell, Casstevens and Colclasure took the ball all the way to the Viking 6, but a one-yard loss, followed by a penalty left the ball at the 10 and Deeds lined up for a game-tying kick with 6:08 left to play.

But the angle was not a favorable one for the Pirates and Deeds’ try sailed wide to the left, giving the Vikings back the ball with a three-point lead.

Fairhope would not get the ball back as MGM would pick up three first downs and was able to run out the clock at their own 37-yard line.

Following the contest, Carter praised both his defense and his offense for keeping the team in the contest until the end.

“We’ve played well defensively the last two games, but tonight I really thought our offense came alive in the second half,” Carter said. “We had a couple of missed fieldgoals, but I really don’t think that ultimately made the difference. I just really wish we could have gotten a stop on that last drive. I’m really proud of our players and we’ve got something to build on going into the rest of the season.”

After gaining only 36 yards rushing in the first half, the Pirates finished the game with 224 yards on 34 carries, led by Bell, who had 124 of his 146 rushing yards in the second half. Casstevens had a pair of big runs to finish with 56 yards on eight carries, while completing 11 of 22 passes with one interception for 86 yards.

Ryan Dunbar, Charles Robinson Thomas, John Peacock, Willis and Baumhower led the way defensively for the Pirates, along with Michael Tomaso, who was sidelined with an injury in the second half.

The Pirates (0-3, 0-2) will look to get the season on the winning track next hosting Theodore in 7A Region 1. The Bobcats suffered their first loss of the season Friday night on the road against the Baker Hornets 41-34.