CENTERVILLE — On a gorgeous late-summer night that cooled off as the sun dipped behind the bleachers, Fairmont’s defense dug deep, the ground game controlled the clock, and the Firebirds’ special teams delivered the final word.

Kole Krejny’s 32-yard field goal as time expired gave Fairmont a 20-17 victory over rival Centerville on Friday at Centerville Stadium, opening Greater Western Ohio Conference play with a dramatic win.

The Firebirds (1-3, 1-0 GWOC) built a 17-0 lead midway through the fourth quarter before Centerville (0-4, 0-1) stormed back with 17 unanswered points to tie the game. But with 64 seconds remaining, quarterback J.J. Hill guided Fairmont 52 yards in eight plays, setting up Krejny’s game-winning kick.

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First Half: Methodical Firebirds

The first quarter ended scoreless, but Fairmont’s Wing-T began to wear down the Elks in the second. Logan Doty capped a 15-play, 80-yard march with a 22-yard touchdown run at the 10:37 mark.

Skyler Slifer added a defensive highlight, intercepting Centerville quarterback Shane Cole late in the second quarter to halt a promising Elk drive. That turnover set up another long possession, ending with Krejne’s 29-yard field goal at the halftime buzzer to give Fairmont a 10-0 lead.

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Third Quarter: Defense Holds

Centerville controlled possession with a 17-play drive, but the Firebirds’ defense tightened. Parker Johnson’s steady rushing pushed the Elks into field-goal range, resulting in a kick by Joey Kristbaum missing wide right from 36 yards.

Anchored by linebacker Demetrius Winn (14 tackles), the Firebirds repeatedly stalled Centerville in the red zone.

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Fourth Quarter Fireworks

Fairmont appeared to take command early in the fourth. On the opening drive, Kameron Thornton burst 48 yards for a touchdown, extending the lead to 17-0. Thornton finished with 127 rushing yards on just eight carries.

But Centerville answered. Johnson, who carried 25 times for 134 yards, scored twice in the quarter, from seven and five yards, and Kristbaum drilled a 32-yard field goal for retribution with 1:04 left to tie the game.

That set the stage for Fairmont’s final drive. Thornton’s 13-yard run and Hill’s completions to Josiah Hargrave and Damien Pattin moved the ball to the Centerville 20. With the clock ticking down, Doty added five more yards to set up Krejny, who calmly split the uprights as time expired.

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By the Numbers
• Rushing attack: Fairmont piled up 244 rushing yards on 45 attempts. Doty added 90 yards and a score on 25 carries.
• Defense: Winn (14 tackles), Kolby Wallace (9), and Kaleb Moore (8) led a group that forced the game’s only turnover.
• Efficiency: The Firebirds ran 49 plays to Centerville’s 60 but held the edge in time of possession (26 minutes to 22).

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Looking Ahead

Fairmont returns home next Friday to host Wayne (2-2) at Roush Stadium.

Centerville, still searching for its first win, travels to Springfield (1-3).