Fairview wins first state championship since 1999

The scene has been set for the nightcap which would be the Class A State Championship. The Gore Pirates was coming into this game for the first time in school history as well as coming off their first semifinal appearance and win and school history while the Fairview Yellowjackets was back in the championship for first time since 1999 which was also the last time they won a title.

The first quarter would start up very up tempo for both teams, The Yellowjackets would strike first with a 14 yard run from quarterback Jax Bernard after leading the charge down field. The Pirates would answer back quick with a 54 yard touchdown run by Gunner Dozier and then they would take the lead later on with a 17 yard run from quarterback Noah Cooper. Second quarter of play the Yellowjacket offense would start to gain more momentum when Bernard would find Austin Houk for a 16 yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 14-14, The defense on both sides would make good plays and the Yellowjackets would take the lead late in the quarter on a 19 yard field goal from Jax Bernard, They would go into the half up by three. A few minutes into the third quarter and the Pirates would take the lead when Noah Cooper would find Wyatt Marrel for a 16 yard touchdown pass to go up 21-17, The Yellowjackets would answer back later on when the offense drove down the field to setup Blake Perez for a two yard touchdown on the goal line to go up 24-21. Start of fourth quarter and Pirates go the distance to setup Noah Cooper for a four yard touchdown pass to Dayne Perryman in the redzone to retake the lead 28-24 but the Yellowjackets would come knocking on the door once again as they would answer back with another Blake Perez touchdown run this one from 14 yards out to make it 30-28, Extra point try would become interesting as an offsides call on the Pirates would move the ball to the two yard line and the Yellowjackets elect to go for two and they would get it to make it 32-28. Late in the fourth the Yellowjackets have the ball and it’s fourth down and a short two with less than two minutes to go and the Pirates had no timeouts, The big question came would they take the three points or go for it and end it? That’s when head coach Robert Bernard made the call to go for it to seal the win and they would with Blake Perez getting the first down and the Yellowjackets would go on to win the game 32-28 and their first state championship since 1999.