FAIRVIEW – Thursday night’s third annual Brandin’ Iron Bowl was the best one yet.

West Point’s defense thwarted a potential game-tying touchdown for Fairview as time expired, securing a 14-8 road victory at Dafford Smith Stadium in the season opener for both teams.

“We expected this to come down to the wire and it did. We all made mistakes, but we pulled through when it mattered the most,” said West Point defensive end Braeden Patterson. “Both teams had to earn every yard.”

Patterson sparked West Point’s defense the entire night, registering a sack and three tackles for loss.

“This was a hard-fought game between two county rivals. That’s the way a rivalry should be,” said West Point coach Don Farley. “We knew it was going to be dogfight, and we had players step up and make big plays at opportune times.”

Both defenses held the opposing offenses under 300 yards.

West Point, which secured its seventh consecutive victory over Fairview, reached the end zone on its opening possession of 2019.

New Warriors’ quarterback Will Cochran completed three passes on the opening drive – all to senior Whitt Laney. On a 4th-and-6 play, Cochran connected with Laney for a 12-yard touchdown with 7:24 to go in the first quarter. Logan Selby added an extra point for a 7-0 lead.

Dalton Payne and the Fairview defense tallied the Aggies’ first points of the season with 6:27 remaining in the first half. Payne led a surge that forced Cochran into an 11-yard loss and a safety.

It remained 7-2 at the half.

Both teams traded punts on the opening four possessions of the second half before Cochran used his arm for another touchdown strike. He hit Kobe Bowers in stride for a 49-yard score with 3:20 remaining in the third. An extra point made it 14-2.

Fairview’s offense countered with its first touchdown of the season. Three plays into the fourth quarter, the Aggies capped an 11-play drive with a 1-yard touchdown run from quarterback Parker Martin. Fairview missed the extra point but trimmed its deficit to 14-8.

After forcing a West Point turnover, the Aggies marched into Warriors’ territory for a second straight possession.

But with Fairview facing a 4th-and-1 from the 21-yard line, Patterson led a Warriors’ charge to turn away the home team.

West Point added the final stand a couple of minutes later, keeping the Aggies out of the end zone on a 2nd-and-goal from the 7-yard line on the final play of the game.

“Fairview dialed up a good play, but it went our way. I was impressed with the effort on both sides,” Farley said.

Cochran went 9-for-16 for 156 yards and two touchdowns for West Point. He added 41 yards rushing.

Laney hauled in five passes for 84 yards for the Warriors.

For Fairview, Tyvn Ellis finished with 89 rushing yards. Tyler Simmons added 85 yards on the ground.

Martin had 86 combined yards for the Aggies at quarterback.

Fairview travels to Hanceville next Friday.

West Point heads to Arab next week.

“We’re glad to get out of here with a win,” Farley said. “We want to send prayers out to basketball coach Randy Jones and former West Point coach Ed Oaks. Both are overcoming big obstacles, and we wish them all the best.”