FAIRHOPE, Ala. — Only one thing was for sure, the winner’s mascot would be wearing a tri-cornered hat and an eye-patch. It turned out to be the swashbuckler in Black and Orange, not the one in Blue and Gold.

The 2011 spring football game between Hoover’s Buccaneers and Fairhope’s Pirates at Majors Field was not standing room only as it might be if they meet again in December. But, it drew good crowds on both sides of Municipal Stadium Saturday afternoon as Hoover outscored Fairhope 21-14 in varsity play and 31-14 overall.

Fairhope coach David Faulkner said the game was a great way to measure the 2011 Pirates as they get ready for the fall.

“I’m glad we had the opportunity to work some of our schemes against a quality opponent,” he said. “Overall, we did a good job of moving the ball. We didn’t finish some drives like I hoped, but this is May so we have some time to work and get better. Overall it was a good day.”

The Bucs varsity put up three touchdowns by air while the Pirates scored two by land. Chase Domino ran both scores in for Fairhope after impressive drives. Domino connected with Lewis Hunter, Nate Andrews and Alex Sealy for big passing gains. Tanner Martin and Domino picked up key yardage on both scoring drives. The Pirates nearly tied it at 21-21, but a delay penalty put them at a costly fourth and long and out of field goal range.

The Fairhope defense did a good job of stopping the Hoover ground game, but struggled with the Bucs’ passing attack. Senior Sam Gillikin threw for three scores on vertical routes for Hoover. The score was 21-14 when the varsity players left the field.

The JV series were competitive, but Fairhope failed to score while the Bucs’ Connor Short hit Xavier Woods on a crossing route for one touchdown. Gabe Phillips and Reneil Brooks led the Fairhope offense inside the Hoover 20 on one drive picking up four first downs.

Hoover place kicker Larsen Real added a 47-yard field goal and three extra points for the final score while Nick Cutrone hit his PATs for the Pirates.

Domino, the incoming Fairhope senior quarterback, said the match up left him feeling good about the fall.

“Thought we played pretty well, most of the game,” he said. “But I can’t wait to get another shot at them and I hope it’s in the state championship. We just need to come out and play more physical the whole game like I know we can. We were missing a couple of starters in the (defensive back) area, but overall I think we did pretty well.”

Domino said both of his scores came on self reads that he made at the line.

“I think offensively we gave them something to think about. Our offensive line did a good job up front and against their rush. We could have used Kyron (Samuels) out there some more, though.”

A highly rated college prospect on the Fairhope offensive line, Samuels injured an ankle in the second quarter.

Hoover coach Josh Niblett said his team was not as consistent as he hopes they are in August, but overall looked good.

“We did some things offensively well, but defensively we need to do a better job getting off the field,” he said. “Especially need to do better on first down and not be so reactive. We need to be more proactive and take it to them more. But in general we did OK.”

The 2010 6A state runners-up lost 32 seniors last year and have 33 this year. The Pirates lost 15 and will bring about 20-24 in as seniors this fall.

The Pirates open the 2011 regular season at home hosting the 5A state champion Spanish Fort Toros.