The Fairfield Eagles held a halftime lead, but Robinson outscored the Eagles 19-0 in the second half to win 32-14 in the final non-district game before beginning District 8-3A play next week.
Fairfield took the opening kickoff and had one of the best and most efficient drives in recent memory. The Eagles marched 78 yards in 13 plays and converted three third downs. The drive consumed over five minutes and Finn Smith caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Cameron Cockerell for the first score of the game. The pass across the middle put the Eagles ahead 7-0 after Eli Castillo hit the extra point.
The ensuing kickoff was taken by Evan Moreno, and he ran through the Eagle special team’s unit for what appeared to be a 93-yard touchdown return. The official showed that Moreno had stepped out of bounds at the Fairfield 24-yard line and the Rockets began their first possession. Rocket quarterback Aiden Stanford threw a touchdown pass of the first play, but it was also called back on a penalty. Two plays later Stephen Knight ran over the left side and scored on an 11-yard touchdown to draw within a point. The extra point was no good and the Eagles held a 7-6 lead.
Near the end of the first quarter, Fairfield began a drive at midfield. On the first play, Eagle running back Evan Chavers ran up the middle, but the Rocket defense knocked the ball away and Moreno recovered the fumble. The eight-play drive went into the second quarter and scored on a 27-yard touchdown pass and a 13-7 lead after the extra point.
The teams exchanged possessions and turnovers and the Eagles had the field position advantage. The Rockets moved out to the 35-yard line and Stanford had the ball knocked from him and Brayden Thornburg recovered for the Eagles with four seconds left in the half. Cockerell dumped a short pass to Camron Daniels, and he weaved his way through the Rocket defense and dove for the pylon for the Eagle touchdown with no time left on the clock. Castillo added the extra point and the Eagles led 14-13 at the half.
The Rockets took the lead on the first possession of the second half. Robinson went to the ground game and all seven plays of the drive were running plays and Christian Lujan scored on a nine-yard touchdown run and would take a 19-14 lead. Collin Glass sliced his way in and blocked the extra point.
Robinson added a second touchdown to begin the fourth quarter. The 12-play drive covered 60 yards and on the first play of the fourth quarter Knight scored on a one yard run and the lead grew to 25-14 on another blocked extra point. Knight added another touchdown, this one from 12 yards out to close out the scoring at 32-14.
The Fairfield Eagles (0-4) will begin district play next week at home when they host the Eustace Bulldogs.
(Photos by Natalia V. Marsters)
