The Fairfield Eagles took to the passing game and it worked to perfection in a dominating win over the Eustace Bulldogs in the opener of District 8-3A Division I play on the road Friday night.
An injury forced Cameron Cockerell into the lineup and he is now solidly in the position to run the Eagle offense. Cockerell completed 19 of 26 passes for 323 yards and an impressive six touchdowns in the district opening win.
The Eustace Bulldogs were the first to get on the board, however. Beginning at their own 44-yard line, the Bulldogs used the running of Brody Sutton and Justin Abbe. Abbe broke free on a 25-yard run to the Eagle 27. Fairfield linebacker Kolby Adams made a tackle behind the line of scrimmage, but three plays later Cameron Kilcrease scored on a seven-yard run to take the lead. The extra point was no good and the Bulldogs had a 6-0 lead.
Fairfield moved the ball into scoring position on the following possession, overcoming big losses on two plays when the snap sailed over Cockerell’s head. JaCorey Daniels caught a pass that he tipped to himself and the play went 43 yards and a facemask penalty moved the ball half the distance. After a 19-yard loss on a snap, the Eagles reached a fourth down and a pass to Rex Bean came up two yards short and the ball turned over on downs.
The teams would exchange possessions into the second quarter and then the Eagles began a scoring drive at midfield. Daniels and Kyler Schick caught passes on the drive but a fifteen-yard penalty backed the Eagles up to the Bulldog 36. Cockerell passed to Bean for 11 yards and then hit Daniels across the middle for a 25-yard touchdown. In for the injured Jonathon Garcia, Eli Castillo stepped in a kicked the extra point for a lead they would not give up the remainder of the night at 7-6.
Eustace picked up a first down on their next possession and the Eagle defense took over control of the drive. Dylon McGowan drug down a Bulldog runner for a five-yard loss and the snap sailed over the punters head and the Eagles took over on the Bulldog 14-yard line.
The Eagles needed only one play to extend the lead when Cockerell found Schick for the 14-yard score and the 14-6 lead.
Fairfield took the opening possession of the second half and made quick work of the yardage and they continued to post large passing numbers. Junior Rowdy Hand returned to the lineup and paid dividends immediately with a couple of big first half runs and he added a couple on the first drive of the second half to pick up a first down and cross midfield. Cockerell completed three passes on the drive, one to Jake White, another to Bean that covered 31 yards and Camron Daniels would catch the 23-yard touchdown pass and the Eagles led 20-3 when the point after was missed.
The defense continued its first half dominance with a takeaway on the next possession. Adams wedged through the Bulldog offense and knocked the ball loose and Carter Richard pounced on the fumble and the Eagles began play at the Eustace 25-yard line. Braiden Barrett ran for six and White caught a 19-yard slant for the touchdown and the 27-3 lead.
Evan Chavers recovered a fumble on the following possession and the Eagle dominance continue with the Eagle offense back on the field at the Eustace 33. Cockerell threw his fifth touchdown pass of the night to JaCorey Daniels that covered 17 yards and the missed extra point put the score at 33-6 near the end of the third quarter.
Cayden Story and Samuel Marsters teamed up for a sack at midfield and later into the fourth quarter, Cockerell added his sixth touchdown pass to Bean for a 39-yard score and the final score of 40-6.
Bean caught five passes for 110 yards and a touchdown and JaCorey Daniels five catches for 105 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Fairfield, Malakoff and Groesbeck took opening night wins in district play and the Eagles will host the Malakoff Tigers on Friday night.
(Photos by Spain Trask)
