By Sean McNamara
FAIRMONT – When the regular season came to a close and the Class AA seedings were announced, the possibility of a fourth-consecutive playoff matchup between the Fairmont Senior Polar Bears and the Independence Patriots was shaping up as a potential semifinal matchup.
After Fairmont Senior defeated Philip Barbour, 42-0, and Independence bested Winfield, 13-0, that possibility became a reality.
“It feels like it’s how it should be,” FSHS coach Nick Bartic said. “We have home field, but they are the champs. They’re the guys who ended our run last year. Now we’re going to try and end theirs this year. It’s fitting that we should match up like this. Expect a big-time atmosphere and a big-time game.”
Fairmont Senior took the first two contests in the rivalry, winning in the 2020 quarterfinals and the 2021 state championship game, before Independence got revenge in the 2022 quarterfinals.
Now, the Polar Bears are looking to avenge that loss next week and make another trip to Wheeling Island.
“Whenever we first saw the bracket come out and we saw Independence on our side, we were rooting for them,” FSHS senior Dylan Ours said. “Until this point, we were hoping that we could play them this week. At our home place, we want to do to them what they did to us last year.”
In the opening round of the playoffs a week ago, the second-seeded Polar Bears got all they could handle from No. 15 Wayne, coming away with a 31-27 win. On Friday, Bartic’s squad put it all together on the rain-soaked field in the Friendly City, outgaining the Colts 383-127 in total yards and earning the shutout victory.
“We responded,” Bartic said. “We had a really focused week of practice. Our guys were challenged in terms of responding from last week. All three phases of the game were much improved. Now we have to stay focused and have another great week of practice.”
Fairmont Senior was successful in all it tried to do Friday, rushing for 182 yards, passing for 201 yards, and keeping the Colts out of the end zone all night.
Ours posted team-highs in rushing and receiving with 112 and 55 yards, respectively, scoring on touchdown receptions from quarterback Brody Whitehair of 31 and 16 yards while also finding the end zone on a 23-yard run.
Damani Johnson rushed for 35 yards with TD runs of 4 and 6 yards while also catching three passes for 23 yards.
Whitehair completed 13 of his 24 passes for 175 yards and three scores, while Cannon Dinger caught a 10-yard TD pass and collected his 14th career interception on defense, giving him the Fairmont Senior school record for a career.
“I’m proud everybody,” Ours said. “Brody played great. Dinger played great. Even in the rain, we were able to throw the ball and make catches. We had some drops, but that’s expected in the rain. It’s hard to play in the rain. It’s a completely different ballgame when that ball’s wet.”
For the Colts, Nathaniel Hulver rushed for a team-high 44 yards on 12 carries while quarterback Kaden Humphreys completed 3-of-8 passes for 58 yards and an interception.
“They’re a great team,” Philip Barbour coach Nic Mayle said of the Polar Bears. “They’ve got great athletes and a great program. They’ve won four state championships out of seven years. I told them after the game that they better go win it all. We’re trying to get to that place. Coach Bartic is doing a great job. Hats off to them. I have absolute respect for them and what they’ve accomplished and what they will accomplish.”
Philip Barbour concludes the 2023 season with a 9-3 record and the school’s first-ever playoff victory in the opening round over Mingo Central on the road.
“This wasn’t really in the plan,” Mayle said. “We’re kind of ahead of schedule after taking over three years ago. The coaches coached their butts off and the kids bought into it. The seniors didn’t really care about our plans. They were ready to get it. Hats off to them and all the work they’ve put in. We’re proud of all they accomplished and no one can take that away from them.”
Now, the Polar Bears will prepare for the semifinal matchup with the Patriots and hope to have the same successful week of practice they did leading up to the quarterfinals.
“It’s an honor. You have to earn Thanksgiving practice,” Bartic said. “There’s only 12 teams in the state that get to do it. Last year we didn’t for the first time in a while. That stung. Our guys were really committed to getting back to this point.”
FAIRMONT SENIOR 42 PHILIP BARBOUR 0
FS;PB
First Downs;20;6
Rushing Yards;182;69
Passing Yards;201;58
Total Yards;383;127
Passing;16;26;0;3-8-1
Fumbles;4;3
Fumbles Lost;1;0
Penalties;12-115;6-55
Individual Stats:
Rushing: FS: Dylan Ours 14-112 1 TD, Brody Whitehair 13-57, Damani Johnson 5-35 2 TD, Rudy Carrillo 1-1, Tarran Boda 2-(-2), TEAM 1-(-9), Taner Woodman 3-(-12). Totals: 38-182. PB: Nathaniel Hulver 12-44, Kaden Humphreys 13-31, Cameron Bennett 2-10, Logan Beam 1-3, Keaton McDermott 1-1, TEAM 1-(-3), Michael Morral 3-(-17). Totals: 33-69.
Passing: FS: Brody Whitehair 14-24-0 175 yards 3 TD, Taner Woodman 2-2-0 26 yards. PB: Kaden Humphreys 3-8-1 58 yards.
Receiving: FS: Dylan Ours 4-55 2 TD, Cannon Dinger 4-42 1 TD, Damani Johnson 3-23, Navaughn Jones 1-25, Logan Canfield 2-30, Jordan Wagner 1-9, Jason Walker 1-17. PB: Nathaniel Hulver 1-23, Cameron Bennett 1-22, Michael Morrall 1-3.
FS;;14;21;7;0;;42
PB;;0;0;0;0;;0
Scoring Plays
First Quarter
FS – Dylan Ours 31-yard pass from Brody Whitehair (Cam Peschl kick)
FS – Ours 23-yard run (Peschl kick)
Second Quarter
FS – Damani Johnson 4-yard run (Peschl kick)
FS – Ours 16-yard pass from Whitehair (Peschl kick)
FS – Cannon Dinger 10-yard pass from Whitehair (Peschl kick)
Third Quarter
Damani Johnson 6-yard run (Peschl kick)
