LEBANON, Ohio – He has nerves of steel. A week after throwing five interceptions, Luke Faler led Lebanon on an epic game-winning drive as the Warriors eked past Fairmont to advance to round two of the Division I, Region 2 playoffs. Down by seven points with just under two minutes left in the contest, Faler guided Lebanon downfield in efficient fashion. He connected with Nick Lautar on a nine-yard touchdown pass and then Copper Scott for the two-point conversion with 36 ticks left on the clock.
Faler ran for two scores to give Lebanon a 14-7 lead midway through the third quarter. Fairmont, who dominated the time of possession battle 32:04 to 15:56, responded with a pair of rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter to take a 21-14 advantage. Logan Doty crossed the goal line with 1:56 left on the clock putting the Firebirds in line for their fifth victory in their last six games after a 1-4 start. Unfortunately, Faler foiled the bliss for the boys from Fairmont.
Doty, had a game high 86 yards rushing for Fairmont. Teammate Damien Patten added 64 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Logan Schmenk ran for 81 yards for Lebanon. Faler finished 12-14 for 121 yards passing and accounted for all three of the Warriors’ scores. Take away the five picks against Winton Woods and Faler’s numbers have been spectacular in his other 10 starts with 22 passing touchdowns and only one interception. Scott, who came into the game with only one career reception, will now be forever etched into folklore of Lebanon football with his historic two-point conversion catch.
SCORING BY QUARTERS
Fairmont: 0-7-0-14-21
Lebanon: 7-0-7-8-22
SCORING PLAYS
L: Luke Faler 9 run (Logan Lane kick)
F: Damien Patten 3 run (Demaris Shafeek kick)
L: Faler 8 run (Lane kick)
F: Patten 1 run (Shafeek kick)
F: Logan Doty 28 run (Shafeek kick)
L: Nick Lauter 9 pass from Faler (Cooper Scott pass from Faler)
RECORDS: Fairmont (5-6); Lebanon (8-3)
UP NEXT: #8 Lebanon at #1 Middletown (8-2)
Get the complete scores from all of this week’s action on the Underground Sports Shop Scoreboard at TriStateFootball.com/scores.
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