ROME TOWNSHIP, Ohio -- At Fairland High School's football media day, senior quarterback Chance Short was asked what he expected this season.
"To go undefeated and make the playoffs," said Short, The Herald-Dispatch first-team all-area passer in 2013.
Short was serious. The Dragons graduated five players who signed to play college ball and head coach Cullen Homolka left to become an assistant at N.C. State, but Fairland still returned a talented core, especially from an explosive offense. In no way could Short anticipate the disaster of a season to come.
Fairland lost its first seven games against a non-conference schedule that included Johnson Central, Wheelersburg, Portsmouth West and Lucasville Valley. They fell to Ohio Valley Conference champion Coal Grove and to arch-rival Chesapeake, as well as losing a record-setting 79-69 shootout at Meigs. The Dragons won two of their last three games to finish 2-8 overall and 2-2 in the OVC, where it finished third ahead of Rock Hill and South Point.
After Friday's season-ending 41-20 victory over South Point, Short stood at midfield in the rain and addressed the team around him.
"You all have to get yourselves in the weight room and get ready for next season," Short said. "You have to get ready so you don't have another season like this one."
Dragons coach Rashad Jackson, a former Marshall University defensive back, said he wants to return next season and turn around the program, which suffered several key injuries early.
Offensive lineman Tyler Campbell tore a knee ligament. Running back Nathan Campbell, one of the premier players in the Tri-State, missed most of the season because of a dislocated elbow. Center Matt McComas was out two games.
"If I'm back, I know we're going to be better," Jackson said. "We had a lot of injuries and really difficult schedule. We had some things that didn't go our way."
Fairland scored 21.2 points per game, but was shut out three times and held to six points once. The Dragons defense gave up 43.5 points per contest.
"Still, we did a lot of good things this season," Jackson said. "The kids improved as players and as people. We're proud of that."
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