Theodore 17, Fairhope 10

Pirates fall short in loss to Region 1 opponent Bobcats

By John Underwood john@gulfcoastmedia.com
Posted 9/17/18

The Fairhope Pirates overcame a 10-0 deficit to the Theodore Bobcats in the second half but fell short in a 17-10 loss to their 7A Region 1 opponent Friday night on W.C. Majors Field at Fairhope Municipal Stadium

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Theodore 17, Fairhope 10

Pirates fall short in loss to Region 1 opponent Bobcats

Posted

FAIRHOPE, Ala. — The Fairhope Pirates overcame a 10-0 deficit to the Theodore Bobcats in the second half but fell short in a 17-10 loss to their 7A Region 1 opponent Friday night on W.C. Majors Field at Fairhope Municipal Stadium.

After scoring early on a 43-yard pass play, the Bobcats notched a 33-yard fieldgoal to take a 10-0 lead with 3:19 left in the third quarter.

The Pirates found themselves pinned deep in their own territory, starting the ensuing drive at the Fairhope 3. Following runs of no gain and five yards by senior running back Damell Bell, the Pirates faced a third and 5 from their own 8, but quarterback Devin Mitchell hit Ramone Bradley on a short slant and after shaking a couple of tacklers it was off to the races, going 92 yards to cut into the Bobcat lead with just over a minute to play in the third period. Sam Rayborn’s extra point made the score 10-7 with 1:21 remaining before the final 12 minutes of play.

Fairhope would get the ball back three plays later following a three-yard gain on first down and a penalty on second down pushed the ball back to the Bobcat 11. Junior safety Jacob Donoian intercepted Michael Underwood’s pass to give the Pirates the ball at the Theodore 40.

A 3-yard run by Bell and a 16-yard pass from Mitchell to Riley Leonard gave Fairhope a first down at the Theodore 27, but the Pirates went backward from there with a loss of a yard on first down, then back-to-back sacks, leaving the Pirates with a fourth-and-18 at the Bobcat 35.

Rayborn trotted onto the field and boomed a 52-yard fieldgoal to knot the score at 10 with 9:43 to play in the contest.

But it would not last long as a penalty on the kickoff would allow the Bobcats to return the kickoff back to their own 30, driving 70 yards in just six plays, capped by a 21-yard strike from Underwood to Zachary Workman. Marcos Linn’s extra point gave Theodore the lead for good.

A pair of turnovers ended the Pirates hopes of another comeback, fumbling just outside the Bobcat 20-yard-line after a 20-yard pass play on its next drive, then throwing an interception near the Bobcat goalline on the last play of the game.

After running just 22 plays in the first half, the Pirates settled down in the second, finishing with 53 offensive plays, including 29 passes. Mitchell was 19 of 28 for 310 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 30 yards on 11 carries. Bell added 43 yards on eight carries for the Pirates.

Underwood was 10 of 14 passing with two interceptions for 137 yards and two touchdowns for the Bobcats. Jimmie Haywood added 58 yards on 14 carries.

The Pirates, 2-2, 1-1 in 7A Region 1 play, will be back on the road this week against the Davidson Warriors in another Thursday night contest at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile.