The Fairfield Eagles allowed 28 first half points and the Rusk Eagles took the season opening win at Eagle Field in Fairfield.
Fairfield was bitten by the penalty bug on numerous plays and two costly miscues on offenses gave the Rusk defense easy chances to score.
Rusk took the ball first and completed a couple of passes for a first down. Spencer Barnett raced to near midfield on a nine-yard run. Aiden McCown completed a pass across the middle to Brailen Trawick for 22 yards into Fairfield territory. Barnett took the ball for three carries on the next four plays, including an 18-yard run and the touchdown for Rusk. Alan Rojo kicked the extra point for the early 7-0 lead.
Fairfield took their first possession and turned it into points to cut into the lead. Eli Martin had a short run and a five-yard penalty put the Eagles in a third and short. Quarterback Rowdy Hand picked the first down and on the next play, Martin broke a tackle near midfield and the raced down inside the Rusk 15 for 44 yards. The drive would stall and senior kicker Jonathon Garcia split the uprights with a 27-yard field goal and cut the Rusk lead to 7-3.
Rusk would answer quickly and churned up big yardage to get there. Barnett caught a screen pass for 22 yards and then he added a 14-yard run to the Fairfield 46. McCown dropped to pass and found Trawick deep across the middle for a 46-yard touchdown. The point after extended the lead to 14-3.
The teams exchanged punts into the second quarter and Rusk punted to Fairfield and the Eagles started a second quarter drive with their best field position on the night at their own 41. A pair of runs by Martin and Garcia got the Eagles a first down. On first down from the Rusk 48, Hand was intercepted by Bryce Grimes and he ran up the far sideline 57 yards for the defensive touchdown for the Rusk Eagles and the 21-3 lead midway through the second quarter.
Disaster struck for Fairfield Eagles on the next possession. Running a jet sweep, the exchange was bobbled and Jaren Driver scooped it up and turned it into a second defensive touchdown. The 18-yard scoop and score put the Rusk Eagles ahead 28-3.
Fairfield opened the second half with an effective drive. Martin had a 33-yard run and Braiden Barrett added an 11-yard run. The drive would reach the Rusk 16-yard line and the Eagles turned possession over on downs.
The Eagles had another great play turn sour when quarterback Cameron Cockerell hit Camrom Daniels with a short pass. Daniels made a leaping catch and was in the open field. He put his hand in the air at the Rusk 20-yard line and was penalized 15 yards for excessive celebration. The touchdown came off the board and backed Fairfield to the Rusk 35. Rusk intercepted a pass on the next play.
Fairfield would have one more touchdown called back when Martin broke loose and scored on an apparent 64-yard touchdown. A holding penalty brought the possession back and Fairfield stalled out without a score.
McCown scored on a 25-yard run to close out the scoring on the night and preserve the win.
The Fairfield Eagles will take to the road for their next game. They will travel to Brownsboro to take on the Bears.
(Photos by Payton Botelho)
