By Sean McNamara
FAIRMONT – For the second-consecutive week the East Fairmont Bees picked up a blowout victory on their home turf at East-West Stadium, defeating the Berkeley Springs Indians, 47-7, on Friday to improve to 2-1.
In the victory, the Bees outgained the Indians, coached by former Princeton and East Fairmont HC Wes Eddy, 264-13 in total yards, and rested their varsity players in a second half that was shortened to two six-minute quarters.
The Bees jumped on the Indians early running five plays in the first quarter and jumping out to a 37-0 lead.
The scoring barrage started early as Berkeley Springs quarterback Jackson Ambrose fumbled the ball in the backfield, forcing him to retreat into his own endzone where he was tackled for a safety by EFHS’s Avery Brown.
After the free kick, a 36-yard pass from senior quarterback Ian Crookshanks to Brown set up a 9-yard TD run from junior Dominic Fantasia to make the score 9-0 after a Karson Church PAT.
On the ensuing possession, Anthony Corwin picked off Ambrose and returned it 36 yards for a touchdown and a 16-0 lead.
Two Berkeley Springs punts and an interception by East’s Tristan Ramsey gave the EFHS offense short fields that resulted in scores, which came on a Fantasia 65-yard run and passing touchdowns of 28 and 23 yards to Fantasia and Brandon Pisino, respectively.
“We just knew we had to get started and get that flow going until they gave up,” Fantasia said of his team’s early effort. “Every guy was ready and knew their job.”
To open the second quarter, Crookshanks found Rockett Nichols with a 10-yard TD pass, his third of the evening, to make the score 44-0 early in the period.
On the night, Crookshanks completed 8-of-12 passes for 133 yards and three scores, connecting with six different receivers in the process.
“We like to share the ball and get everybody in the gameplan,” Crookshanks said. “It’s not always just one guy for us. We have numerous guys who can do the job and get it done for us.”
With 2:08 left in the second quarter, Church, who was 6-for-6 on PAT attempts, connected on a 29-yard field goal to make the score 47-0 at the break.
After two quarters, the Indians had -14 yards of offense with two turnovers and a safety, something EFHS coach Shane Eakle credited to his defense’s attention to detail and effort.
“I think we did execute,” Eakle said. “We got in and we attacked. We weren’t real extravagant, but we just did our reads and I thought our guys did a good job of playing downhill.”
In the second half, the Indians, coached by former EFHS coach Wes Eddy, got on the board against the Bees’ reserves on a 2-yard TD run from Conner Duval, who also led Berkeley Springs in rushing and total offense with 32 yards on the ground. That touchdown was the last score of the game, which ended with a 40-point EFHS win.
Ambrose finished the night 3-of-7 passing for 2 yards with interceptions to East’s Corwin, Ramsey and Logan Short.
Fantasia led the Bees with 74 yards rushing on two carries while Brown posted a team-best 47 yards on two receptions.
With the win, East Fairmont moves to 2-1 as it prepares to take on Braxton County next Friday.
For a squad that made the postseason in 2022 for the fourth time in school history first time since 2007, the Bees are confident that a culture change has taken over a program that’s headed in the right direction.
“As soon as Coach got here it’s been an entire tradition change,” Fantasia said. “We’ve gone from the worst team in the state to a team that I believe is competitive and can make a run for the state championship. We’ve really worked together to overcome all of our losses and become better as a team.”
EAST FAIRMONT 47, BERKELEY SPRINGS 7
EF;BS
First Downs 8;3
Rushing Yards;102;11
Passing Yards;162;2
Total Yards;264;13
Passing;10-16-1;3-7-3
Fumbles;2;3
Fumbles Lost;1;0
Penalties;4-30;3-15
Individual Statistics
Rushing
EF: Dominic Fantasia 2-74 2 TD, Adrian Fleming 6-35, Anthony Corwin 1-13, Kaeden Barr 3-(-6), TEAM 2-(-14) Totals 14-102. BS: Conner Duval 19-32 1 TD, Chase Yackowski 3-0, Jake Aulabaugh 3-4, Jackson Ambrose 4-(-6), TEAM 3-(-19) Totals 32-11
Passing
EF: Ian Crookshanks 8-12-0 133 yards 3 TD, Anthony Corwin 1-3-1 28 yards, Rowan Cramer 1-1-0 1 yard. BS: Jackson Ambrose 3-7-3 2 yards.
Receiving
EF: Avery Brown 2-47, Dominic Fantasia 1-28 1 TD, River McClain 1-28, Gavin Murphey 2-24, Brandon Pisino 1-23 1 TD, Rockett Nichols 1-10 1 TD, Tristan Boone 1-1, Blake Haller 1-1. BS: Kyle Moore 2-2, Chase Yackowski 1-0.
EF;;37;10;0;;47
BS;;0;0;7;0;;7
Scoring Plays
First Quarter
EF – Jackson Ambrose tackled in end zone by Avery Brown for a safety
EF – Dominic Fantasia 9-yard run (Karson Church kick)
EF – Anthony Corwin 36-yard interception return (Church kick)
EF – Fantasia 65-yard run (Church kick)
EF – Fantasia 28-yard pass from Ian Crookshanks (Church kick)
EF – Brandon Pisino 23-yard pass from Crookshanks (Church kick)
Secon Quarter
EF – Rockett Nichols 10-yard pass from Crookshanks (Church kick)
EF – Church 29-yard field goal
Third Quarter
BS – Conner Duval 2-yard run (Alex Robles kick)
