WICKLIFFE–Wickliffe scored 14 unanswered points in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter to defeat visiting Fairview, 28-24, at Memorial Stadium on Friday.
Isaac Pettway scored on a four-yard run with 1:52 remaining in the game then scored on a one-yard run with just 12 seconds remaining to seal the come from behind victory.
“We did some great things offensively at the end there,” said Wickliffe coach Marce Porcello. “We were in no huddle with one timeout, moved the ball down the field, got an onside kick, then moved it back down the field and then you know Isaac with that great run at the end on the one-inch line. Our offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage and he leaped in the end zone. It was a great win; I’m processing it.”
Pettway, who finished the game with 166 yards on 26 carries, opened the scoring with a 45-yard touchdown run with 9:35 left in the first quarter.
Fairview responded with a 23-yard touchdown run by Marty Rohr to tie it at 7-7 with 6:33 left in the opening quarter.
Brad Dieterich then threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Chase Fortkamp to put the Blue Devils back on top, 14-7, with 2:42 left in the opening quarter.
Fairview, who dropped a triple-overtime contest to Rocky River in Week 1, used a 17-point second quarter to take a 24-14 lead into halftime.
Declan Jewitt scored on two one-yard runs for the Warriors and Adam Nemeth booted a 37-yard field goal with just two seconds left in the half.
Fairview missed a 40-yard field goal late in the third quarter but that’s as close as either team would get to the end zone until Pettway’s fourth-quarter heroics.
Pettway’s first fourth-quarter touchdown run pulled the Blue Devils to within 24-20. Dieterich’s extra point missed but the Warriors were called for roughing the kicker and Dieterich was true on his second chance.
The Blue Devils then recovered their onside kick at the Fairview 45 with 1:48 left to play.
Dieterich engineered a drive that set up Pettway’s final plunge into the end zone and a 2-0 start for the Blue Devils. Dieterich finished the night 6-for-16 for 87 yards and the one touchdown pass.
Fortkamp caught four passes for 69 yards and he added 33 rushing yards on five carries. Jaylen Bowers caught two passes for 18 yards in the win.
Wickliffe hosts East Tech on Friday, Sept. 7.
