The Fairfield Eagles took the long and winding road to Rusk and came home with a loss in the opener to the Cherokee County set of Eagles.
The season returns to some sort of normalcy with the opening night on the road for the Fairfield Eagles and both defenses started strong for the first points of the game.
On the first offensive snap of the contest, senior quarterback Owen McCown dropped to pass to the left side of his formation. Cornerback Jaylyn Daniels stepped in front of the pass and caught it and raced up the far sideline for the Fairfield score. The extra point failed but the Eagles of Fairfield led 6-0 only nine seconds into the game.
Rusk drove to midfield on their next drive but it stalled there and were forced to punt. The punt was fielded and fumble and it eventually bounced into the endzone. Will Dixon pounced on the loose ball for the Rusk touchdown and tied the score. It remained tied with a bad snap on the point after attempt.
Fairfield was forced to punt on their next possession and the Eagle special teams had their first miscue in that department. The punt only went four yards and Rusk took over inside the Fairfield 22-yard line. Rusk needed three plays to turn the short punt into points on an eleven-yard connection to Heston Kelly for the touchdown. The point after was good and the Rusk Eagles took a 13-6 lead.
The final minute of the first quarter would see the Rusk lead swell. Taking advantage of another short punt, Rusk traveled 28 yards in only four plays. McCown tossed his second touchdown of the night, this one on a 19-yard strike to Aiden McCown. The missed snap turned into a two-point pass completion for the conversion and the Rusk Eagles led 21-6 after one quarter.
The score did not change until the waning minutes of the first half. Beginning at their own 45, McCown completed all four passes on the drive for 50 yards and then taking the last six yards himself for the 27-6 halftime lead. Braiden Barrett sliced his way through to block the extra point, keeping it at 27-6.
A scoreless third quarter brought a pair of scores in the fourth. Fairfield had to punt in the early minutes of the final period and Rusk began near midfield on their turn in the fourth. It took only one play when Jermaine Session busted up the middle for the 55-yard touchdown run and the failed point after left the score at 33-6.
Fairfield scored with five minutes remaining in the game. The Eagles took advantage of a short punt and started in Rusk territory. Fairfield needed only three plays and Eli Martin broke through and scored on a 28-yard touchdown run. The run for two failed and the final score was set and the Rusk Eagles captured the 33-12 win.
Owen McCown was the offensive star completing 18-32 passes for 204 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Martin led the Eagles with 114 yards and a touchdown.
Fairfield will take their second of three road games to open the season when they travel to Brownsboro Bears on Friday night.
(Photos by Ashlyn Garcia)
