FAIRHOPE, Ala. – Within seconds, Fairhope took a 6-0 lead against Theodore, but the Pirates spent the rest of the first quarter playing “bend-but-don't-break” defense, with a key interception by Safety Willie Woodyard in the Pirates’ end zone keeping Theodore off the scoreboard.

Once the first quarter ended Fairhope’s offense switched to fourth gear and the end result was a 41-14 victory over Theodore in Friday night’s 6A opening round state playoff game.

The Pirate offense was unstoppable after the first quarter, sparked by a long punt return by Ben Reynolds to the Theodore five-yard-line with 6:08 left in the second quarter. One play later, Nate Andrews took the ball into the end zone to give Fairhope a 13-0 lead.

“No doubt the punt return by Ben sparked us in the second quarter, and it got us momentum,” Fairhope coach David Faulkner said.

The Pirates scored three more times in the second quarter to hold a 34-0 lead at halftime. Theodore didn’t get on the scoreboard until well into the fourth quarter when quarterback Chris Nelson ran it in from seven yards out, but the game was already way out of reach at 41-6.

Fairhope Quarterback Chase Domino threw for 212 yards on 14-of-18 passing with a touchdown pass and two touchdown runs.

Running back Tanner Martin had over 60 yards rushing and one touchdown to lead the Pirate ground attack. Andrews scored on two touchdown keepers.

Woodyard made two key red zone interceptions in the game to lead the Fairhope defense, one coming in the first quarter and another coming in the second quarter with the score at 20-0. Woodyard took the second interception back to the Theodore 14. Martin scooted into the end zone on the next play to enlarge the Pirates’ lead to 27-0.

“We sputtered offensively, and the way our defense played kept us in the game,” Faulkner said. “Willie gets a pick in the end zone and another to stop them from scoring twice, and that turns the ball game around.”

The Pirates’ special teams made the first big play of the game, forcing a fumble on the opening kickoff that was recovered by Fairhope linebacker Scott Dacus at the Bobcats’ 27-yard-line. Fairhope scored four plays later.

The Pirates had 342 yards of total offense, and 238 yards came in the first half. Theodore had 332 yards on offense. Nelson was forced to throw 43 times for Theodore’s offense, and he completed only 19 of those passes.

Theodore scored with 18 seconds left in the game on Nelson’s 11-yard touchdown throw to Wide receiver Gary Dickerson to make the score 41-14.

Fairhope goes on the road to face Davidson in the next round of the state playoffs. Davidson defeated Fairhope 20-15 in the regular season finale.