FAIRHOPE, Alabama –The Daphne at Fairhope “War on the Shore” appeared headed for a defensive showdown Thursday night after two scoreless drives and a fumble each by offenses averaging 40-plus points per game.

Then DuQuan Able scooped up a second Pirate fumble and went 26 yards for a Trojan touchdown to establish a lead Daphne would not relinquish as the defending 6A state champions went on to a 45-24 Region 2 (league) and Southern Region televised, hyper-rivalry win at W. C. Majors Field.

Daphne senior linebacker and Alabama Crimson Tide commitment Ryan Anderson said he already had respect for the Pirates offense, but came away with even more after the contest.

“They have a heck of a ball club. Come with a lot of pressure. We came out lights out in the first half, then we were a little sluggish in the second half. Some of our players are a little banged up. They have a good offensive line and they've been scoring 42, 45 points a game, so holding them to 24 tonight was a win for us. As long as the Trojans win, I'm good. Just want to get another championship.“

DHS appears headed for that repeat picking up their eighth-straight win this season, their sixth Region 2 win. The Pirates dropped their second Region 2 game to take a 6-2, 4-2 record into week nine.

“Just missed opportunities, really,” said Fairhope head coach David Faulkner. “We had chances there to stay in the ball game or even take control, but to Daphne's credit they did. When they needed to come up with a big play, they did.”

The big play for Daphne meant getting the ball to senior tailback T. J. Yeldon. The Auburn commitment who carried it 35 times, often directly from the wildcat formation, rushed for 341 yards and four TDs of 35, 5, 1 and 86 yards.

“We shot ourselves in the foot a couple of times,” said DHS head coach Glenn Vickery. “But overall, our guys did a great job. T.J. made some big plays for us, but he's a great player and a couple times he didn't even get touched so give credit to the offensive line for that."

The Trojans also got points form quarterback T. J. Fleeton who hit Jonathan McGaster on a 27-yard TD pass. Fleeton also found Chris Sain open for key first downs on two scoring drives as the Trojans mixed it up occasionally.

The Pirates went bolder from the start with QB Chase Domino launching back-to-back bombs to Elias Petties and starting the second half with a successful onside kick by Nick Cutrone. Domino and tailbacks Tanner Martin and Brent McDonald also ran effectively compiling 289 yards combined. McDonald (144 yards) scored on runs of 9 and 53 yards, Domino found Duke Milton open for an 8-yard TD pass. Martin carried 20 times for 104 yards. Daphne place kicker Brandon Roberts hit a 27-yard field goal and Cutrone made one of 21. Cutrone also made a last-man tackle on a McGaster return.

The Trojans led 21-7 at the half, but Fairhope's onside kick led to the Pirates' second TD to make it 21-14 with a swing in momentum. But Daphne maintained a 10-point lead 31-21 into the fourth and extended it by 14.