The Fairfield Eagles went into the bi-district playoff game as the big underdog but battled a top ten Grandview Zebra team that would eventually claim the 27-9 bi-district victory. The game site was a rainy Stuart B. Lumpkin Stadium in Waxahachie.
The Eagle defense held the Zebra offense out of the endzone many times and, under questionable weather conditions, took advantage of some Grandview mistakes.
The first touchdown came on after a Fairfield punt. Eagle punter Kohl Collins mishandled the punt and had to scramble and pulled off a Houdini-like effort getting a 39-yard punt to set up Grandview possession.
The Zebras picked up a couple passing first downs and would score on a 40-yard touchdown run to take a 6-0 lead.
The Eagles overcame a Cameron Cockerell interception and forced a Zebra punt and went on their most impressive drive of the night. They went on a 52-yard drive that took ten plays and most of the yards came on the legs of Jaylon Shed. He ran for a first down and then added a 16-yard run for another inside the Zebra 25. A 14-yard pass to Collins put the Eagles at the Grandview five-yard line. The drive stalled and Eli Castillo kicked a 24-yard field goal to cut the lead in half at 6-3.
Grandview answered on a five-yard touchdown run and tried to extend the lead to double figures, but the conversion pass was no good and the Zebras would take a 12-3 lead into the half.
Fairfield came out with possession to begin the second half, but the Zebras would put the first points up. Cockerell’s pass was intercepted on the first snap of the quarter and Jaleal Allen raced 84 yards for the pick six and the score swelled to 20-3 on the conversion run.
Late in the game, the Eagles mishandled another punt on a high snap and the Zebras took over on the Fairfield three. The Zebras would put that touchdown on the board and the final score would read a Grandview 27-3 lead.
Fairfield would add a late touchdown to set the final score at 27-9.
