The Fairfield Eagles needed to win to stay in playoff contention. After falling behind, they played into overtime and that win became reality at Eagle Field Friday night.
Fairfield remains in the mix for the playoffs, tied with Salado for third and they will travel to face the Eagles in the regular season finale. Salado lost to Mexia Friday night 21-6.
Robinson needed the same victory to keep their hopes alive and they jumped out to a lead and things looked bleak for the Fairfield Eagles for almost the entire first half.
The Eagles took the ball and senior quarterback Justin Abram kept the ball on the first snap and raced upfield for a 67 yard touchdown, but the play was called back on a penalty and the first possession ended with a punt.
Fairfield forced a Robinson punt and took over at their own 21 yard line. After losing yards on their first two plays, Abram hit DeQuann McWilliams with a 41 yard gain into Robinson territory. The offense went to the running game and moved inside the ten and stalled at the four. Tyler Haynes came on and kicked a 21 yard field goal to take a 3-0 with three minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Robinson continued to struggle in the first quarter. Senior quarterback Joseph McHenry completed a pass to Jordan Rogers for a 33 yard gain and then missed four straight passes to turn the ball over on downs.
Fairfield took over at their 29 yard line and Abram ripped off a 23 yard run, but at the end of the run, he fumbled the football and Robinson recovered near midfield. On the first play of the drive, McHenry handed off to Malik Ford and sprinted up the near sideline for the 52 yard touchdown to take the lead. The extra point by Robert Rogue put the Rockets ahead 7-3.
This span of just a few minutes put the Fairfield Eagles in a hole they were going to have to dig out of. Fairfield went three and out and a short punt put the Rocket offense on the field at their 45. The Robinson offense for the second straight time needed only one play to cash in. McHenry hit Mathew Armes for a 55 yard touchdown and the lead swelled to 13-3.
On the point after attempt, Aiden Brackens leapt up and blocked the kick. Jar-Mychael Hudson scooped up the ball and took it the other way for the two points for the Eagles and the score was 13-5 after one quarter.
The score remained an eight point Robinson lead until the eight minute mark of the third quarter. Fairfield forced a punt on the first Rocket possession and the kick rolled to the Fairfield six yard line. On third down from the 11, Abram had his pass picked off by Rogers and he returned it 23 yards for the score. The extra point gave the Rockets their biggest lead of the game at 20-5.
From here the Fairfield defense took over the game and the comeback was in full swing. Abram had a 31 yard punt return to the 43 yard line and the offense began the fourth quarter on a 12 play drive, ending with a 17 yard touchdown run by Hudson. Abram found Haynes across the middle for the conversion and the Eagles trailed 20-13 with nine minutes remaining in the game.
Robinson only needed points to ice the game and their drive took several minutes off the clock. On the thirteenth play of the long drive, Rogue attempted a 22 yard field goal that sailed wide left and the Eagles had to move 80 yards in just a couple of minutes.
Abram connected with McWilliams for a nine yard gain and the quarterback kept three times for a couple of first downs. Hudson ripped off a 36 yard gain to convert a fourth down and three plays later, Abram pushed in on the one yard keeper for the touchdown with :33 seconds remaining. Haynes hit the crucial point after to tie the game at 20-20.
Regulation ended with the tie and the teams went into the overtime session. Robinson took the football first and Hudson sliced through to drop McHenry for his third sack of the game and a 17 yard loss. McHenry tried dropping a screen pass to Ford, but Angel Limones reached up and intercepted the pass and almost returned it for the defense, but he was stopped so the Eagles had their turn from the 25 yard line.
Hudson had a short run on first down and on second down he pushed the Rocket defense for 20 yards, including dragging a couple of Robinson defenders to the five yard line. Two plays later, Abram crossed the goal line for the overtime win.
Fairfield will travel to Salado to take on the Eagles in the regular season finale. The winner will finish third in the district behind Waco Conally and Mexia and the loser will take the final spot.
(Photos by Shae Garcia)
