FAIRHOPE — Fairhope’s Nate Andrews helped score five touchdowns in the Pirates’ 49-14 victory over Andalusia on Friday night at W.C. Majors Field.

With delicate precision, Andrews made big plays when he had to, scrambling away from Bulldog defenders who pressed all night.

Offensively, Andalusia scored the first TD in the contest, but FHS answered with four touchdowns to take a 28-6 halftime lead. The Pirates added one TD in the third quarter and added two in the fourth quarter.

Andalusia only managed 139 yards of offense against a strong FHS defense. The third-quarter score cut the game to 28-14.

The Pirates’ final two TDs came after Andalusia turned the ball over on downs and on a punt return with less than three minutes left in the contest.

Next week, AHS (6-4) will have to iron out its kinks to get ready for the first round of the Class 4A state playoffs as it travels to face fourth-ranked Beauregard.

“(It was a) lack of focus,” AHS head football coach Brian Seymore said was the reason for the loss. “Lack of focus, but that’s my responsibility. I’ll take full responsibility.”

With 5:44 to go in the first quarter, Andalusia got on board after an early Fairhope fumble. AHS junior Ty Wallace took the ball in for five yards, and led 6-0 with an incomplete 2-point try.

Fairhope quickly ran an 8-play drive 56 yards down the field on its second offensive possession, where Andrews scored his first of three rushing TDs, this one from nine yards out. The Pirates led 7-6 and never looked back.

Andalusia couldn’t get anything going on its next offensive series and had to punt the ball away.

Fairhope needed only two plays to score its next TD as Andrews connected with David Kirksey on a 64-yard pass with 11:42 left in the first half to make it 14-6 with the PAT.

AHS went three-and-out on its next offensive series, and a 24-yard pass from Andrews to Devin Odom led to another Pirates TD.

Ernest Andrews took the ball 11 yards with 7:32 left in the second quarter and FHS led 21-6 with the PAT.

Nothing resulted from the Bulldogs’ next drive with the ball, and Fairhope took advantage, completing a 12-play, 76-yard drive in five minutes.

At the end of the long drive, Nate Andrews scored from a modest six yards with 12.4 seconds left in the first half and the Pirates led 28-6.

Starting the second half, Andalusia came out on fire, executing an eight-play, 64-yard drive.

With 6:51 left in the third quarter, Andalusia junior quarterback Michael McCalman connected with Javonte Johnson, who took it 15 yards to the house. With a short 3-yard pass to senior receiver Jalen Cross for the 2-point conversion, the score was a respectable, 28-14.

Andalusia made FHS scratch its head on the Pirates’ next offensive series as Nate Andrews, who is a great ball carrier, fumbled the ball. Luckily, Terrance Lance was there to pick the ball up and AHS had the ball again with 5:28 on the clock.

A three-and-out later, Andalusia had to punt the ball away again.

Out of the pocket and under pressure, Nate Andrews threw a pass over the left shoulder of receiver Rushing Watson for a 62-yard score with 2:48 left in the third quarter.

FHS added its final two scores on a 55-yard strike from Andrews to Rip Merrit, and a 50-yard punt return for a TD by Landon Lasseter.

Nate Andrews was 8-of-10 for 272 yards and three touchdowns in passing. Waston has three receptions for 141 yards.

McCalman led AHS with 41 yards on the ground on 14 carries.

Seymore promised the Bulldogs will be better next week.

“I promise you, I’m going to find the ones who are going to compete next week and have a chance to beat Beauregard, because I feel like tonight a lot of guys let their teammates down,” he said.