The Fairfield Eagles broke open a halftime tie and scored 29 points and captured their first district win on the road in Blackcat Field Friday night.
Fairfield improves to 1-2 and with the Madisonville and Robinson loss on Friday, every team has sustained a loss only three weeks into the district season.
FLYING PAST THE MEXIA BLACKCATS DEFENSE, #11 Jalen Busby, for a Fairfield Touchdown is Eagles #7 Cody Ferguson.
Mexia took the opening kickoff and reached midfield on a couple of short runs by Jaden Proctor and Jadrian Smith. A late hit penalty moves the ball into Eagle territory. The Blackcat offense moved inside the 30-yard line and Proctor fumbled but was able to get back on the ball. Lex Thompson and Jordan Gibson sacked Proctor and set up a third and long. Proctor hit Josh Beachum at the three-yard line to set up a first and goal. The drive stalled, and Ortiz kicked a 23-yard field goal for the early 3-0 lead.
The Eagles scored on their first possession of the game. Fairfield used the running game with senior running back JaShaughn Hatcher and junior Jar-Mychael Hudson. Hatcher ripped off a 15-yard run inside the Blackcat 30-yard line and Hudson ran for 19 yards inside the five.
Hatcher finished off the nine-play drive with a three-yard run to give the Eagles the lead. Haynes added the extra point for the 7-3 lead.
SOURING THROUGH THE BLACKCATS for a touchdown is Eagles #1 Kam Ransom.
Mexia went back on offense and the Eagle defense rose to the occasion for the first time in three weeks. Proctor dropped to pass and his throw was picked off by Jaise Oliver. He toed the line before falling out of bounds with highlight interception. It is also the first takeaway since the Palestine game three Fridays ago. The Eagles picked up a first down, but the drive stalled, and Haynes kicked a 31-yard field goal to extend the lead to 10-3 in the final minute of the first quarter.
There was still time for the Blackcats to put points on the board. The hand off went to Dre’vaun Cooper and he raced through the Eagle defense for an 85-yard run to tie the score at the end of the first quarter.
The teams exchanged possessions in the second quarter with a couple of punts and Proctor’s second interception of the night, it also going to Oliver and the teams remained tied at 10-10 at the half.
The Eagles took the second half kickoff and began to take the momentum out the Mexia side of the field. Chad Rushin called his own number on a 14-yard run and a first down. Kameron Ransom broke away on a 15-yard run and Hatcher added a ten-yard run. On fourth down and a couple, Rushin tossed to Blake Posey for a 15-yard gain to the Blackcat ten-yard line. Ransom finished the drive on a three-yard run and took a 17-10 lead.
Mexia was able to draw within a point late in the third quarter. A short punt put the Blackcats at the Fairfield 37-yard line. Proctor converted a third down with a rope to Gamble down to the one-yard line. Proctor scored on the keeper and the point after was no good. Kadarrius Walker sliced through and blocked the kick and the Eagles held onto a 17-16 lead with 1:19 remaining in the third.
Both teams suffered turnovers at the quarter change and Fairfield had great field position. Dylon Rushin fell on a loose ball at the Mexia 15-yard line. Hatcher had an eight-yard run and then followed with a seven-yard score to extend the Fairfield lead to 24-16.
Disaster struck the Blackcats for the second consecutive drive. Hudson covered a fumble that was ripped from Chris Slater and the Eagles had their fourth takeaway and started again at the Mexia 41-yard line. Rushin passed to his left on a short throw to Ransom and he took care of the rest for the touchdown. Haynes added the point after for a 31-16 lead with 8:48 remaining in the game.
Mexia was pushed back to near the goal line on a sack by Gibson to the Mexia two-yard line. The short punt set the Eagle offense inside Mexia territory for the third straight time. On the third play of the drive, Hatcher took the snap and raced up the middle for the 39-yard score and his third touchdown of the night. The snap was bobbled, and Cody Ferguson scooped it up and raced to the pylon for the two-point conversion and the 39-16 win.
Hatcher rushed 16 times for 144 yards and three touchdowns in the big district win. The Fairfield Eagles enter the open week of their season and the have the final three games loom large in the playoff standings. Mexia will travel to Waco to take on the Conally Cadets.
(Sports Photography by Melissa Lee)
