The Fairfield Eagles held an 8-0 halftime lead but a second half surge by the Rusk Eagles, sparked by their defense, pushed the home team to a win in the opening game of the season. Fairfield came away on the short end of a 33-22 final score.
The Eagles took the first possession and marched down the field in 11 plays and reached the Rusk four-yard line. On fourth down, the Cameron Cockerell pass fell incomplete, and they turned the ball over on downs. The Fairfield defense made a stop on the first possession and the teams battled to a 0-0 tie through the first 12 minutes.
Fairfield made big plays on the defensive side most of the first half, led by Colin Glass and Darion Weatherall with a sack to stop a Rusk drive. Midway through the second quarter, Rusk stepped back in punt formation and the snap sailed over the punters head for an eventual 29-yard loss. Dylon McGowan broke through the Rusk protection and made the play, setting up the Fairfield offense at the Rusk 19.
Three runs placed the Eagles with a first and goal at the Rusk three. After a loss on first down, Cockerell threw the fade to the near corner and found Evan Chavers for the four-yard touchdown and the early lead. Jaylon Shed ran in the conversion for the 8-0 lead that would hold up through the end of the first half.
Rusk put points on the board on their second possession in the third quarter. Cockerell had his pass intercepted by Spencer Barrett and returned to the Fairfield yard line. Five plays later Rusk quarterback Brady Barrier hit Brayden Grimes with a five-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 8-6.
Fairfield was forced to a three and out and the punt by Kohl Collins rocketed 54 yards to flip the field. On the first play of the drive Barrier found Cody Smallwood streaking down the hashmark and the pass play covered 77 yards to put the Rusk Eagles ahead 12-8 after the missed conversion.
Cockerell was intercepted for a second time in the third quarter, and it was returned for an apparent touchdown but was called back on a penalty. Barrier completed a pass to Mason Trowbridge for 23 yards to the Fairfield five-yard line. Bricion Griffen finished the drive covering those final five yards and Rusk extended the lead to 19-14 after the successful extra point.
Fairfield wasted no time to match the score and close the gap. The Eagle offense went 70 yards on only three plays, the final 49 on a pass from Cockerell to Collins. The conversion pass was incomplete, and the Rusk lead was 19-14 at the end of the third quarter.
Rusk had continued their drive from the end of the third quarter and put points up on the board in the first moments of the final quarter. Griffin caught a 15-yard touchdown pass to push the lead back to double digits at 26-14.
The Eagles would answer in impressive fashion with 12 plays, 80-yard drive, converting two third downs. Chavers bulldozed his way through the line for the three-yard touchdown and also added the conversion run to cut the lead to 26-22, needing a stop to get an opportunity to take the lead as the time dwindled away.
Rusk answered with an 11-play drive of their own. The 51-yard drive, all on the ground, ended with a Barrett 13 yard run in the last couple of minutes in the game. The point after put the lead at 33-22.
Fairfield could not mount a scoring drive as the time expired and Rusk won the opening game of the season 33-22. Cockerell completed 17 of 35 passes for 215 yards with three touchdowns and he was picked off three times. Collins hauled in six passes for 116 yards and one score.
The Fairfield Eagles will return home and have their home opener on Friday night when they take on the Brownsboro Bears.
(Photos by Natalia V. Marsters)
