The Fairfield Eagles jumped out to a lead and coasted to a 55-21 win over the Crockett Bulldogs in Fairfield Friday night. Both teams will be representing District 9-3A Division I in the Class 3A Division playoff that will begin Thursday night.
The Fairfield Eagles (10-0, 5-0) will play the fourth placed team from 10-3A Division I, Anahuac Panthers Friday night in Willis.
The Bulldogs playoff status was in limbo coming into the game, but they had the tiebreaker over Diboll and Teague, so they were in solid shape for a spot.
Crocket took the first possession, and the double wing offense went to work with several fakes and motions, but the Eagles were not fooled and forced three plays and punt. The punt formation produced a powerful rush from the Eagles special teams and Armando Charles and Darion Weatherall sliced through and blocked the kick and recovered at the Crockett twelve-yard line. Fairfield needed only two plays when Khamarion Ingram-Reed broke through on a 13-yard run for the first touchdown of the game. Kieran King added the point after for a lead the Eagles would hold throughout the game at 7-0.
Fairfield forced a second punt in the first quarter, and the offense was given a gift. A punt return to midfield by Finn Smith set the Eagles in great field position but the Bulldogs were called for a personal foul and the drive started at the Crockett 33. Again, the Eagles needed two plays to add to the lead. Senior quarterback Kohl Collins hit Smith with a 19-yard scoring strike, and the lead grew to 14-0 with 4:13 remaining in the first quarter.
The game progressed into the second quarter, and the Eagles had another short drive. Going 66 yards in only four plays, Collins completed both passes for a total of 45 yards, the second to Smith for a 21-yard touchdown and the Eagles extended the lead to 21-0.
Crockett had a pair of penalties assessed on the kickoff and began their drive on their five-yard line. Jaccorian Griffin converted a third down with a short run out of the shadow of their own goal post and then Griffin took the quick pitch and ran around a tackle, leaped over another and raced 83 yards for the Bulldogs first score and the point after cut the lead to 21-7.
Fairfield used outstanding clock management to counter the score before the half. Smith caught a 40-yard pass to convert on a third and long and the final play of the drive was a dump pass to Zaylan McMillian for the touchdown, and the Eagles led 28-7 at the half.
The Eagles had the opening possession of the second half and used that time for their longest drive of the game. They traveled 81 yards on eight plays, the key play a 34-yard scamper by Ingram-Reed and the score was a perfect over the shoulder strike to Kavion Hicks for the 36-yard touchdown, increasing the lead to 35-7.
Senior Night at Eagle Field.
The Bulldogs got instant answer to the score by Griffin. He caught the kickoff at his own ten, paused for a count and then raced up the far sideline for a 90-yard kickoff return, cutting the lead to 35-14 with 8:21 remaining in the third quarter.
Fairfield answered the Crockett score quickly and in big play fashion. Smith caught a 16-yard pass and a pair of Kyden Rodriguez runs netted another first down. Collins then hit Tylan Davis for the short pass that ended as a 61-yard touchdown pass and the lead was 41-14 following a mishandled snap on the point after.
The Eagles turned the Bulldogs away at the three-yard line on a fourth and goal. The highlight of the night came on the first play of the Eagle drive. The handoff to Rodriguez was the easy part and he took care of the rest, racing through the Bulldog defense on his way to a 97-yard highlight reel run and the 48-14 lead to open the fourth quarter.
Jaylen White scored on a one-yard run for the Bulldogs and the Eagles again matched the score with Armando Charles raced up the middle on a five-yard run to close out the 55-21 district clinching victory.
Kohl Collins completed 15 of 21 passes for 282 yards and five touchdowns and Smith caught five of those passes for 88 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
