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Fairborn stuns Fairmont, pulls off last-second win

Touchdown with 6 seconds left caps improbable comeback.

Photos: Fairmont vs Fairborn

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By Matt Velazquez, Staff Writer Updated 2:38 AM Saturday, September 17, 2011

KETTERING — As Friday night’s game between Fairmont and Fairborn wore on, it became clear that it was going to be the type of shootout that wouldn’t be decided until the final minute.

Fairborn fulfilled that prophecy with an improbable comeback.

Down by three with 39 seconds left, the Skyhawks started at their own 40-yard line. A pass from senior quarterback Kendrick Williams to senior Noah Rehs put Fairborn at the Firebirds’ 36.

Two plays later, Williams rolled left and lofted one to the end zone for senior Billy Jackson, who reeled it in with six seconds left to seal the Skyhawks’ stunning 40-36 victory.

“I saw the coverage was one-on-one back side, so I told the quarterback to throw it up to me,” Jackson said. “He made a great pass, right where I could get it, and I came down with it.”

After trailing the whole game, it looked like Fairmont was going to be the come-from-behind winner when junior quarterback Tom West hit senior Bryan Prouty for a 15-yard touchdown with 39.7 seconds left.

The two-point conversion run by senior Nick Bower — who had 34 rushing yards all in the second half — gave the Firebirds the three-point lead that would evaporate moments later.

Fairmont’s late touchdown left Jackson and the Skyhawks shaken, but still sure that they could come through.

“We know our offense is too dynamic to give up at any time,” Jackson said. “All we need is that second, that last second.”

At the outset of the game, it didn’t look like the game would evolve into a nail-biter.

Fairborn’s Devon Hamilton scored the first of his three rushing touchdowns on the first drive of the game.

Moments later, West was picked off by none other than Jackson, who ran the interception back 44 yards for a 14-0 Skyhawk lead less than three minutes into the game.

“I thought it was going to be a blowout, but they kept fighting,” said Jackson, who had three catches for 57 yards. “I’ve got to give Kettering a lot of credit, they kept coming back at us. They had me nervous at the end.”

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