The Fairfield Eagles took a 20-0 lead in the first half and made that hold up in their first win of the season and their first district win over the Eustace Bulldogs Wednesday night.
Fairfield was playing the game under the new COVID schedule, where they will play five games in roughly three and a half weeks. They will get back in the saddle for a contest against state ranked Malakoff in Fairfield on Tuesday and then the following Saturday at home against Kemp for an afternoon homecoming kickoff.
The Eagles moved the ball easily for the first time in the season and got into a rhythm. They took advantage of some Bulldog miscues for two short drives as they dominated the Bulldog offense with some physical defensive play.
Fairfield took the ball first and marched to near midfield and were forced to punt. The punt would net nothing when it bounced off of another player and Eustace took over at their 41-yard line. They went three plays and out and the third down play was a sack by Karson Shipley, forcing the Bulldogs to punt.
The Eagle offense enjoyed their first big play of the game when quarterback Kaden Crawford hit Luke Latham on the sideline that he turned into a 17-yard gain. They would connect again for 16 yards to convert a fourth down. Crawford was 3-3 on the drive passing, the final connection to Jacorey Daniels for a five-yard touchdown. The extra point was blocked, and the Eagles led 6-0.
The beginning of the second quarter produced more fireworks for the Eagles, this time on special teams. Hayden Braswell caught a punt at the Eustace 37-yard line and picked up a couple of blocks and raced down to the 12-yard line. Braswell carried for five yards and Jaylyn Daniels finished the drive with a seven-yard touchdown run. Jonathon Garcia added the extra point, and the lead grew to 14-0.
The kickoff went deep and off the hands of the Eustace returner and went out of bounds at the two-yard line. Shipley picked another sack and forced the Bulldogs to punt. The short punt put the Eagle offense back on the Eustace side of the 50. Dylon Rushin carried for near first down yardage and Latham moved the chains to the 12.
Three plays later, Rushin scored on a seven-yard run. Garcia’s extra point put the Eagles ahead 20-0.
The Bulldogs did cut into the lead before the half on a Paxton Schwartz touchdown pass to Christian Case that covered 21 yards. The conversion failed and the Eagles led 20-6 at the half.
Perhaps the only miscue for the Eagles came on an odd play in the third quarter. Latham was back to return a punt and he broke into the open field and was about to score on a 52-yard touchdown return. As he neared the end zone, the ball was knocked out of his hands and out of bounds for a touchback. Eustace could not move the ball with the turnover and were forced to punt.
The Eagles offense went back to work at the Eustace 47-yard line. The drove 47 yards in six plays, all running plays and Rushin finished the drive with a four-yard run, his second touchdown of the game. Garcia tacked on the point after for a 27-6 lead.
Eustace drove deep into Fairfield territory in the fourth quarter and the Eagle defense stopped them on fourth down and eventually assumed the victory formation for a crucial district win.
The Fairfield Eagles will continue to play an odd schedule for the remainder of the season but have put them in good position for a couple of more wins and secure a playoff spot.
(Photos by Shae Garcia)
