Colerain's Sean Jones is wrapped up by three Fairfield defenders. (Mike Simons photos) | ZOOM |

        Sean Jones was the most successful runner all night, so it was fitting that the Colerain quarterback came up with the game's biggest play.

        It was tied. Fourth-and-1. Less than four minutes remained.

        Then Jones burst through the middle for a 22-yard touchdown run that gave the unbeaten Cardinals a 34-28 victory over a relentless Fairfield team on Friday night at Cardinal Stadium.

        Colerain, the city's top-ranked team, improves to 7-0 (5-0 Greater Miami Conference). It had only given up 30 points total in its first six games.

        Fourth-ranked Fairfield saw its playoff hopes dim as it dropped to 4-3, 3-2.

Fairfield's Earl Haynes is tackled by Colerain's Buddy Spears. | ZOOM |

        Jones hurt Fairfield with his legs more than his arm. The 5-foot-11 junior attempted only eight passes (completing just three) but rushed 19 times for 190 yards and two TDs.

        Jones came in having rushed for 280 yards in the team's first six games (46.7 rushing yards a game). In all, Jones accounted for 251 yards against Fairfield.

        “We knew they were going to try to take away Jon Mohr,” Jones said. “I knew it was either going to be me or Maurice (Johnson). I just kept the ball (on the option) and did what I could.”

        Most impressive about Jones' deciding touchdown run (the extra-point attempt was blocked) was that it came after a crucial error.

        Colerain was clinging to a 28-21 lead when on a third-and-5 from its own 30, Jones threw a pass that was intercepted by Fairfield's Brian Michitti and returned 42 yards for a touchdown. The extra point tied the game with 6:54 remaining.

        “I thought we could've buckled,” Colerain coach Kerry Coombs said. “The great thing about (Jones) — and a lot of our kids — I don't think they linger on yesterday's mistakes.”

        They sure didn't.

        The Cardinals marched right down the field, scoring on an eight-play, 81-yard drive to regain the lead for good with 3:24 to play. Fairfield's final possession ended when senior linebacker James Battle intercepted a pass with 1:01 left.

        “It wasn't pretty, it wasn't easy, but it was well-deserved,” Coombs told his team in its postgame huddle. “... You played with courage. That was a special victory.”

        Mohr finished with 121 yards on 15 carries. The Cardinals had 402 rushing yards.

        Mohr scored three touchdowns, including a 47-yard run that put Colerain ahead 28-21 with 11:04 left.

        Fairfield had tied it on a 10-yard TD pass from Brett Pogozalski to Ronnie West. That made it 21-19. The Indians had to go for a two-point conversion, and Pogozalski connected with Earl Haynes in the end zone.

        Pogozalski was 16-of-27 for 291 yards and two touchdowns. Haynes, Fairfield's all-time leading rusher, returned after missing two weeks with a sprained right ankle. He finished with 66 yards and one TD on 17 carries.

        Fairfield ....... 0  7  6  15—28

        Colerain ....... 7  7  7  13—34

        C—Mohr 2 run (Mohr kick)

        C—Mohr 7 run (Mohr kick)

        F—Spurlock 11 pass from Pogozalski (Brown kick)

        F—Haynes 6 run (kick blocked)

        C—Jones 11 run (Mohr kick)

        F—West 10 pass from Pogozalski (Haynes pass from Pogozalski)

        C—Mohr 47 run (Mohr kick)

        F—Michitti 42 interception return (Brown kick)

        C—Jones 22 run (kick blocked)

        Records: Fairfield 4-3, 3-2 GMC; Colerain 7-0, 5-0 GMC.

Complete prep football coverage at Enquirer.com/prepfootball

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