The Fairfield Eagles scored a late touchdown and held onto to defeat the Athens Hornets 27-24 at Bruce Field on Friday night.
The Eagles (1-1), coming off a lopsided loss to the LaVega Pirates last week, jumped out to another lead and made it hold up. Athens came back and took a slim lead but the Eagles answered.
Kolbe Branch received the opening kickoff and raced down the field and was tackled on the Athens 16-yard line. Junior quarterback Kam Ransom passed to Avery Archibald for 14 yards to the two-yard line.
Kadarius Walker (pictured at top) finished the short drive with a two-yard plunge for the score. Tyler Hanes added the point after for the 7-0 lead.
The Eagle defense forced an Athens punt and finished the next drive in spectacular fashion. Jar-Mychael Hudson (pictured above) had an 11 run to the Fairfield 30, the Ransom called his own number on the read option and out ran the opposition for the 70-yard touchdown run. Haynes hit the extra point and Eagles were in control 14-0.
Athens did get on the board before the end of the first quarter. The Hornets recovered a fumble at the Fairfield 29 and Xavius Fulton had a couple of runs inside the 20-yard line. The drive stalled and the field goal unit came on and connected on the 21-yard field goal.
A penalty gave the Hornets a first down and the drive continued. Three plays later Jerquindon Taylor scored on a two-yard run to cut the lead to 14-7.
The Hornets got into position to tie the score when they forced a Fairfield punt at their own 41-yard line. The three plays on the drive were all runs by Fulton, the last on a 23-yard touchdown run. The extra point was no good and the Eagles held onto a 14-13 lead early in the second quarter.
Both defenses took over for the last few minutes of the first half. Athens managed their first lead of the game on the last play of the first half. Taking over at the Fairfield 24 on a fumble recovery, the Hornet offense made it to the four-yard line and settled for a 21-yard field goal as time expired.
The teams battled throughout the third quarter. Walker stopped a Hornet drive at the 20-yard line when he intercepted Fulton. The running of Walker and Ransom set up a first down at the Athens 15-yard line.
Hudson took the rest of the real estate on a 15-yard run for the go-ahead score 21-16 with two seconds remaining in the quarter.
(Brining down the Athens ball carrier includes Fairfield Eagles #12 Trevan McWilliams, #4 Avery Archibald, and #81 Johnn Owens. – Pictured above)
Athens regained the lead midway through the final quarter on a Fulton one yard push up the middle. The try for two was stopped short on a big hit from Ulises Ramirez Rangel and the Hornets lead stayed at 22-21 with 7:27 to go.
Fairfield took over after the kickoff on their side of the 50-yard line. Walker had a ten-yard run into Hornet territory. On first down, Ransom had the snap sail over his head and he began to scramble. He picked up a couple of blocks and turned a 15-yard loss into a 13-yard run inside the Athens 30.
Hudson took a run to the 11-yard line and three short runs ended in a Walker touchdown run from two yards out. The Eagles lined up for two and the pass bounced away from the receiver and Jordan Mayhill scooped up the ball and returned it for two points the other way. The Eagles led 27-24.
Fairfield held onto the lead and the final seconds were completed on the victory formation.
Ransom led the way with 117 yards on ten carries and Walker added 73. The offensive output was much higher than a week ago.
Fairfield returns home to Eagle Field to host the Palestine Wildcats on Friday night.
(Photos by Melissa Lee)
