Kam Ransom and JaShaughn Hatcher scored three touchdowns each in a rout of the district leading Conally Cadets 44-9 on homecoming at Eagle Field.
Hatcher rumbled for 182 yards on the night and the Eagle running game punished the Conally defense with a powerful offensive line. The Eagles only went to the air 12 times on the night for a couple of touchdowns.
The Eagles put the first points on the board with only a minute lapsed in the game. Beginning at their 45-yard line, quarterback Chad Rushin had a 19-yard run for a first down. On second and five, Rushin hit Ransom crossing the middle for a 27-yard touchdown pass. Rushin added the two-point run for the early 8-0 lead with 10:57 remaining in the opening quarter.
The teams exchanged turnovers, the second a Johnny Perez recovery for Fairfield. The Eagles began at the Cadet 28-yard line. Nine plays later, Hatcher busted in for a six-yard touchdown. Rushin passed to Blake Posey for the conversion and the Eagle lead opened up to 16-0 with just under three minutes remaining in the first quarter.
The Eagle defense forced a punt and sent their offense back to the field in the final moments of the first quarter. On second and six from their 28-yard line, Rushin found Ransom open on the far sideline and he made the catch and secured a 72-yard touchdown. The pass on the conversion was no good but the Eagles led 22-0 after one.
Fairfield kept up the amazing play on defense and the offense continued to make plays on the district leaders. On the tenth play of a drive in the second quarter, Ransom took the handoff and scored his third touchdown of the night. Rushin ran in the conversion run for a 30-0 lead.
Conally did put points on the board before the half. Jay’Veon Sunday had a couple of carries for good yardage on the drive and quarterback Gaylon Glenn tossed a touchdown pass to Je’Juan Forward for the 30-yard score. The extra point was good, and the Cadets cut the lead to 30-7.
The Eagles answered the score with 1:42 remaining in the first half. Hatcher had runs of six and ten, and Jar-Mychal Hudson had one of 13 yards. Hatcher finished the drive with a 24-yard run and Ransom added the conversion for a 38-7 halftime lead.
Hatcher would add a 69-yard touchdown run in the second half and Conally added a safety to set the final score at 44-9.
The Fairfield Eagles are very much in the hunt for a playoff spot. They evened their record at 2-2 in the district race with two games remaining. Conally drops to 3-2, tied with the Madisonville Mustangs. Lorena now leads the district at 3-1 and Robins defeated Mexia in overtime and are tied with the Leopards at 3-1. Salado and Mexia need wins and help to get in and Blackcats are all but out of the playoff race at 0-4.
(Sports Photography by Melissa Lee)
