FAIRHOPE, Alabama - Even if Robertsdale hadn’t turned the ball over on an opening kickoff fumble, even if quarterback Hunter Vaughn hadn’t thrown an interception on the Golden Bears’ second play from scrimmage, even if the Pirates hadn’t recovered two other Robertsdale fumbles and an interception before the end of the first half, even if Fairhope quarterback Chase Domino wasn’t knocked out of the game with an injury six minutes into the second quarter, Robertsdale’s defense allowed the Pirates’ short game to be way too long Friday night at W.C. Majors Field.

You could say that the Pirates’ first two touchdowns before two minutes ticked off the clock were a lucky break, but with a score of 42-6 at halftime, it was apparent that they didn’t need luck. By halftime, Fairhope running backs Brent McDonald and Tanner Martin had both accounted for two touchdowns each on the ground while wide receiver Elias Petties matched with two through the air. Domino was six-for-nine passing when suffered an awkward fall at the end of a 47-yard keeper. He would remain on the sideline for the rest of the game while backup quarterback Gabe Phillips took over.

Robertsdale’s positive yardage was gained by running up the middle and effective use of screen plays. Bears’ running back Samuel Tolbert had a six-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and Vaughn connected with Chasen Hadley for a 32-yard touchdown pass in the third. Vaughn also managed to turn a couple of blown plays around with improvisational running, and used the technique to score the Bears’ final touchdown with 9:47 to play in the game.

Fairhope head coach David Faulkner said his team took the game seriously despite Robertsdale’s 1-4 record coming in.

“A regional game is a big game, and anytime you get a regional win it’s a big win,” Faulkner said. “We have a tough two game stretch ahead of us. We’re going to have to play as well or better than we did tonight to stay in the race, so we have our work cut out for us.”

As for Domino’s injury, Faulkner said he expected his starting quarterback to be back on the field for practice this week. “I think he just got the wind knocked out of him and we had the game handled at the time, so we took him out as a precautionary measure,” he said. “Phillips filled in well, but I think Chase will be 100 percent for next Friday.”

Fairhope (5-1) travels to Foley next week before returning home to face the Daphne Trojans Oct. 13. Robertsdale (1-5), meanwhile, faces two undefeated teams next as they travel to Daphne next week before hosting McGill Toolen.

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