The Inter-Mountain photo by Joey Kittle Elkins High School’s Logan Beam looks for an opening in the Fairmont Senior defense Friday night at Tiger Stadium. Beam had 120 yards rushing and two scores in the Tigers’ 26-16 setback.

ELKINS — The game plan for Elkins against Fairmont Senior was evident on the Tigers’ opening drive of the night.

Keeping the high-scoring Polar Bear offense off the field with a time-consuming drive that resulted in points was worked to perfection on Elkins’ initial possession of the evening.

But Fairmont Senior’s passing attack and big plays proved to be the difference as the Class AAA, 13th-rated Tigers dropped a hard-fought 26-16 decision to the No. 3 Polar Bears Friday night at Tiger Stadium.

Elkins ate up over 8 minutes of the first-quarter clock, with Logan Beam’s 4-yard run capping the long drive and treating the Tigers to a 7-0 lead after Dyer Barger’s conversion kick.

Fairmont Senior’s quick-strike offense then appeared on the ensuing series as Anthony Smith found a streaking Rudy Carrillo for a 69-yard connection on the Polar Bears’ third play from scrimmage.

The PAT kick was blocked as the Tigers maintained the lead at 7-6.

A failed onside kick then gave Elkins the ball near midfield and it capitalized as Barger’s 27-yard field goal made it 10-6.

The Tiger defense then held Senior on downs but couldn’t manage a drive and forced to punt.

Tarran Bodan then busted loose for a 63-yard score off a pass from Smith to give the Polar Bears their first lead of the night, 12-10, after the failed conversion.

Just before halftime, Fairmont Senior forced another EHS punt and were able to find the end zone when Smith found Carrillo from 38 yards out.

Jason Walker added the two-point conversion to extend the lead to 20-10 at the break.

The Tigers forced another Polar Bear punt to start a scoreless third quarter.

Taking over at its own 21-yard line, Elkins’ drive stalled near midfield and a fake punt failed to give Fairmont Senior the ball back.

The Polar Bears appeared to be headed for another score before Tony Sylvester picked off a Smith pass in the end zone and returned it to the EHS 25-yard line.

The Tigers again utilized their potent running game to move to the Senior 25. However, a fumble halted the march on the fourth play of the final stanza.

Fairmont Senior took advantage of the miscue when Smith found Walker in the back of the end zone from 31-yards out.

The conversion kick was blocked, leaving the score 26-10.

Like their opening drive of the night, the Tigers’ final one of the evening resulted in a touchdown.

Using the running of Beam and Seth Robinson, along with three major penalties whistled against the Polar Bears, Elkins cut the lead to 26-16, with Beam going in from one yard.

The two-point conversion run failed, keeping it a two-score affair in favor of the visitors, who were able to run out the final 2:52 of play.

Beam rumbled for 120 yards on 29 totes in the setback, followed by Robinson with 96 yards on 28 totes.

Smith ended the night with 304 yards passing, with Carrillo hauling in five receptions for 130 yards, Gabe Kubasky five for 57 and Walker two for 43.

Fairmont Senior was held to less than 40 yards rushing on the night by the Tiger defense.

Elkins is now 5-3 and will remain home next Friday to face Brooke.

The Polar Bears (6-1) visit Connellsville (Pa.) on the same evening.