FAIRHOPE, Ala. - The Fairhope Pirates needed an interception in the game’s final minute to secure a big season-opening victory over the visiting St. Paul Saints 22-18 Friday night.

With 53 seconds remaining in regulation junior Desmond Samuels picked off the pass securing the win for the Pirates.

“We knew going into the game it was going to be a growing process. They have worked hard since February. We have a great group of kids and I love them to death,” Pirates head coach Adam Winegarden said. “We have some guys that the more they play the more they are going to get. I couldn’t be prouder of our kids they showed resiliency and a lot of character tonight.”

The win was nowhere near easy for the Pirates as they fell behind early 12-0 to the visiting Saints, thanks in large part to a rushing attack that was relentless through most of the night.

“My hat's off to Saint Paul’s tonight they came out and really controlled the game. They had a tremendous game plan,” Winegarden said. “If you would look at time of possession I would have to say they dominated."

Controlling the play clock comes easy when your offense amasses a total of more than 250 yards on the night. Most of that came on the legs of Ostin McPherson, who totaled 165 yards on the ground including 123 in the first half alone.

The Saints leaned on McPherson and the running game in the first half when they jumped out to a 12-0 lead over the Pirates.

That lead for the Saints quickly evaporated for the Saints as soon as the second half kicked. The Pirates scored on their first two possessions.

The First of those touchdowns came in the hands of Ernest Andrews on a 55-yard touchdown bringing down their deficit to just 6.

On their very next possession Grey Jackson connected with David Kirksey on a pass that went for 88 yards for a touchdown giving the Pirates a 15-12 lead late in the third quarter.

“Just like anything else when you run some type of option attack there are going to be some holes it’s just a matter of you getting to them,"  Winegarden said. “We were just fortunate enough to get there.”

After a touchdown late in the fourth quarter, The Saints were in position to steal a victory over the Pirates until Miller Mosley’s pass was picked off by Samuels.

After dominating for much of the first half the Saints seemed to run out of steam late against a team with bigger size and more speed.

“It was a 6A team playing a 5A team; eventually depth is going to catch up to you. That’s why we have classifications,” Saints head coach Steve Mask said. “We turned the ball over and made a lot of silly penalties that caused a lot of grief. Give Fairhope credit they were down 12-0 at the half and came back and did what they had to do.”

Andrews and Kirksey led the way for the Pirates Friday night. The two play makers combined for a total of 259 yards on the night.

Next week the Pirates begin a tough stretch of games that see them play on the road the next three weeks before returning home to play Spanish Fort.

The daunting road test starts next week when they travel to play Enterprise.

“We have our work cut out for us. Coach Faulkner has done a great job and he has a great football team,” Winegarden said. “It’s going to be a challenge for us, our region is very tuff and every week is a war.”