The Fairfield Eagles took their largest lead of the game on the final drive to retake the lead in a wild fourth quarter at the Buffalo Athletic Complex. Fairfield won the game 28-24 and evens their season record at 2-2.
Both teams made great plays and great mistakes throughout to allow their opponent to stay in the game. Any momentum change was quickly absorbed by the other and neither team built a big lead nor had any lead for very long.
The Bison took the first possession of the game and turned in the first touchdown of the night. Donte Lott had a pair of runs for a first down and junior quarterback Cole Davis converted a fourth down near midfield. Lott took the handoff on a second and long and raced through the middle of the Eagle defense for a 56-yard touchdown run with 9:17 remaining in the opening quarter. The try for two failed and the Bison led 6-0.
Cal Wilson electrified the crowd with the kickoff return. He came up the home sideline for a 60-yard return deep into Bison territory. The Eagles could not convert and suffered a couple of penalties. Kieran King came on to attempt a 34-yard field goal, but the snap sailed away, and the Eagles recovered 29 yards behind the line of scrimmage. The turnover on downs put the Bison back in business at their 40.
Buffalo used 11 plays to go 60 yards and used over five minutes of the game clock. Lott tacked on his second touchdown of the quarter on a four-yard score with 1:42 to go in the quarter. Again, the run was short on the conversion and Buffalo extended their lead to 12-0, the largest by any team on the night.
Fairfield needed only one play to put themselves back in the game. Junior quarterback Kohl Collins launched a pass down the far sideline and hit Kavion Hicks for the 69-yard touchdown. The catch and run cut the lead in half and King’s extra point put the Bison lead at 12-7 with one minute remaining in the first quarter.
The defenses took control for the remainder of the first half. Justus Savage and Jason Brackens had tackles for losses and a sack to back the Bison offense up in their end of the field. Madden McElroy had a pass broken up and Wilson picked off a pass in the end zone. Dylan McGowan and Talan Hathcock roamed the line of scrimmage with big hits before the half and the Bison maintained the slim lead.
The Eagles took their opening second half possession and marched downfield, all on the ground with Derion Weatherall and Collins. On a fourth down from the Bison 23, Collins hit Connor Colvert for a pass across the middle. He was hit and lost the ball and Abraham Medina recovered, stopping the Eagle threat.
The teams exchanged possessions and crucial penalties and a couple of sacks, and the Eagle offense was pinned back on a fourth and 30, when a fumble and a sack pushed them back. Collins’ punt sailed over the returner and rolled down inside the five-yard line. Buffalo was held to a three and out and Aiden Gonzalez dropped to punt for the Bison. The punt shanked off his foot for a 12-yard kick and the Eagles took over at the Bison 15.
Three plays later, Collins hit a wide-open Hicks for his second touchdown of the game and the Eagles took their first lead of the game on the 16-yard score. The pass for two was no good and the Eagles led 13-12.
Buffalo did regain the lead at the end of the third quarter. Davis and Lott connected for a 46-yard gain inside the Eagle 25 and Davis would finish the drive with a five-yard touchdown run. The point after was no good and the Bison led at the end of the third quarter 18-13.
Fairfield took control of the line of scrimmage and the running game would regain the lead. Jaylon Shed picked up a couple of first downs and Collins passed twice to Hicks. Shed finished off the 50-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown run and added the conversion run and the Eagles built a 21-18 lead.
Buffalo would answer with a four-minute drive to make the lead change for the third time in less than a quarter. Davis completed all three passes on the drive and two carries, the second for a 39-yard touchdown with five minutes remaining in regulation. The try for two was short and the Bison lead remained 24-21.
The Eagle offense went back to work and picked up a quick 11-yard run for a first down. Weatherall and Collins joined in the run game and Fairfield moved inside the Bison 35. Two missed passes put the Eagles in a third and long and Collins was sacked for a nine-yard loss.
Choosing to go away from a potential 41-yard field goal with seconds remaining, the coaching staff put the offense back on the field and Collins found Hicks inside the five for the first down and under 30 seconds remaining. After a five-yard penalty, Collins dumped a pass up the middle to Shed and he forced his way into the endzone for the touchdown, his third touchdown pass of the game. King tacked on the extra point for the 28-24 lead.
The final gasp was Davis being sacked by McGowan and Hathcock as the buzzer sounded and the Eagles preserved the 28-24 lead.
Hicks caught seven passes for 129 yards and a pair of touchdowns and Collins had another terrific night through the air completing 19 of 29 throws for 264 yards and three scores.
The Fairfield Eagles even their record at 2-2 and will travel to McGregor to take on the Bulldogs in the final non-district tune up before district begins after the open week.
