The Fairfield Eagles had three returns for touchdowns and the offense exploded for 67 points in the district 8-3A Division I opener in Fairfield Friday night.
Both teams came into the district opener searching for their first win of the season and a win in the first game of the district campaign is a large step toward a playoff spot in a few weeks.
Eustace took the first possessions and quickly went three plays and had to punt. The punt came down into the hands of Cal Wilson at midfield and he raced through the Bulldog coverage team on his way to the first touchdown of the night. Eli Castillo added the extra point for the early 7-0 lead.
After a second Eustace punt, the Eagles had great field position and went back to work. On the second play of the drive, quarterback Cameron Cockerell hit sophomore wide receiver Finn Smith for a 38-yard touchdown connection and the Castillo point after putting the game at 14-0.
The Bulldogs put together a small drive on the next possession, picking up their initial first down and converting on a fourth and short. On the punt, Wilson returned it 25 yards and the Eagles offense was in place for another score. On third down from their 42-yard line, Cockerell passed to Kohl Collins for the 58-yard touchdown and the quarter would end 21-0.
Early in the second quarter, the Eagles would score without the offense ever taking the field. Rowdy Hand ripped a pass out of the air and returned it 30 yards for the score. Wilson added his second punt return touchdown, the second for 52 yards and the Eagles stretched the lead to 34-0.
Collin Glass had a fourth down sack and set the Eagles up for the final score of the first half. Cockerell passed to Dylan McGowan up the hash mark, and he rumbled through the Bulldog defense for 52 yards inside the Eustace 25. Cockerell passed to Collins for his second touchdown of the game and the third touchdown pass for Cockerell, this covering three yards and the halftime score was 40-0.
Brandon Thornburg, Evan Chavers, Darion Weatherall and Glass kept the Bulldogs bottled up the entire game. The Eagles held Eustace to 64 yards of total offense on the night.
Fairfield took the initial possession of the second half and needed only five plays, all on the ground. Mixing the running with Jaylon Shed and Weatherall, the final run was scored by Eli Castillo. He would miss the point after.
The Bulldogs next punt only travelled four yards and the Eagles took possession at the Bulldog 23-yard line. Shed finished the drive with a nine-yard touchdown run and the lead grew to 53-0.
The Eustace return team put their only points on the board when the kickoff return ended with an 85-yard touchdown.
Cockerell added his fourth touchdown pass of the night on a 33-yard strike to Smith, his second on the night. The reserves took the field in the final quarter and Rowdy Hand scored on a 26-yard touchdown to go with his interception return earlier in the game.
Fairfield (1-4, 1-0) will take to the road on Friday when the visit reigning district champion and top ten Malakoff.
(Natalia V. Marsters)
