The Fairfield Eagles put a scare into the state ranked China Spring Cougars only to fall to them 21-14 Friday night in China Spring.
The Eagles went into the game as a heavy underdog. With replacement quarterback Chad Rushin, in for an injured Kam Ransom, the Eagles did not miss a beat and had 154 yards in the first half against the favorite China Spring Cougars.
The teams exchanged punts in the opening moments until their final possession of the first quarter.
Taking over at their own 48-yard line, Rushin hit Kolbe Branch on the slant and he raced 52 yards for the touchdown, but it was called back on a penalty.
Rushin hit Avery Archibald for 19 yards and a first down and Kadarius Walker bulldozed his way on a 20-yard run to the China Spring 11-yard line. Walker added a four-yard run and finished the drive on a four-yard score for the game’s first touchdown. Haynes added the extra point for the 7-0 lead.
China Spring had to punt on the next possession and the Eagle offense went back to work.
Beginning at their own 31, Jar-Mychael Hudson had a couple of short runs and on third down, Rushin connected with Archibald for 33 yards to the China Spring 41.
Stepping in as Quarterback, #8 Chad Rushin, hands the ball off to Fairfield Eagle #15, Jar-Mychael Hudson.
On the next play, Walker busted through the line for the 41-yard touchdown run and there was an upset in the making with the Eagles holding a 14-0 midway through the second quarter.
The Cougars were able to get on the board on their next possession. China Spring marched 69 yards in 13 plays and were not able get the big play but moved down the field.
Cayden Johnson pushed through on the quarterback sneak and cut the lead in half at 14-7 heading into the halftime break.
The Eagle offense could not get anything going on offense in the second half. Tyrick James rushed up the middle for a 62-yard touchdown run to tie the score and Brayden Mathis had a two-yard run near the end of the third quarter to take the 21-14 lead. James finished with 136 yards on 17 carries.
Fairfield had some chances and the defense was solid, they just could not break through with a tying or go-ahead score for the remainder of the game.
The Fairfield Eagles finish the non-district schedule at 2-3 and will have an open week this week. They begin district 9-4A DII play with a road game to Salado on October 13.
(Photo at Top) – The strength of this convocation of Eagles: #50 Jordan Gibson, #12 Tre McWilliams, and #32 Jashaun Hatcher, bring down a Cougar ball carrier during last week’s game against China Spring.
(Photos by Melissa Lee)
