The Fairfield Eagles had to be flexible around the weather and dominated the second half in a 41-12 win over the Crockett Bulldogs. The Eagles claim the final spot in District 9-3A Division I and move onto the playoffs.
Fairfield moves into the bi-district round of the playoffs and will take on the Orangefield Bobcats, champions of District 10-3A Division I. The game is set for a 7:30pm kickoff at Splendora High School on Friday night.
Heavy rains, lightning, and hail in the area forced the schools to decide to postpone the game for Friday and try again for noon on Saturday afternoon.
The Eagles dodged an early mishap on the opening kickoff. The kick was knocked loose near midfield and the Bulldogs recovered but the Eagle defense forced a three and out.
Fairfield took their first possession after the turnover. Jaylon Shed ran for a first down and quarterback Kohl Collins passed to Finn Smith to convert a third down. Jason Brackens ran for a pair of first downs and Collins passed across the middle to Cal Wilson for the 14-yard touchdown with 7:17 remaining in the first quarter. The point after sailed wide right and the lead remained 6-0.
Crockett answered on the following drive to tie the score. Jacorrien Griffin had a 21-yard run. Damion Dickson caught an 11-yard pass inside the Eagle ten. Griffin completed the scoring drive with a one-yard push, but the conversion was no good and the score was tied 6-6.
Fairfield added a final touchdown before the end of the first quarter. Wilson made a great catch to convert a key third down and it covered 27 yards inside the twenty. Shed scored on a one yard run three plays later. Will Zachry slipped away and took the pass from Gustavo Aguilera to add the conversion pass, and the lead went back to the Eagles 14-6.
The Fairfield defense stopped the Crockett Bulldogs on a Madden McElroy interception, and the Eagles put their offense back on the field at their 34. They took 13 plays and almost six minutes off the clock. Shed did most of the damage with a 19-yard run and three other key runs on the drive. Collins connected with Shed for the three-yard touchdown pass the Eagles extended the lead to 20-6 after the missed extra point.
Crockett added an 11-yard touchdown pass in the final minute of the first half and cut the lead to 20-12 at the half.
The Eagle defense got a stop on the first possession of the second half. Fairfield mixed up the running backs in the possession and were still effective. Brackens, Shed, Collins and Khalil Appel ran for first downs and later Collins passed to Davion Hicks for the 16-yard touchdown.
Brackens and Appel each scored fourth quarter touchdowns, and the final score was 41-12.
The Palestine Westwood Panthers win the district championship, and the remaining three teams were tied with a 3-2 record. The Teague Lions finished second with the tiebreaker and Diboll wraps up the third-place spot. The Eagles claimed the final spot with the win over Crockett.
The Fairfield Eagles play Orangefield at Splendora Friday night at 7:30pm to begin their playoff run.
(Courtesy Photos)
