The Fairfield Eagles entered the playoffs with a load of injuries and finished the season with a loss to the talented West Trojans. The season will begin with healthy players and high hopes for success in the future… and the future is now.
The 2022 edition of the Fairfield Eagles will return 17 letter winners and seven starters on both sides of the ball. The names are the same but this time the Eagles are ready to sharpen their skills on a tough non-district schedule and ready themselves for a familiar group of district rivals. Head coach and athletic director John Bachtel spoke of the new district, “realignment is exciting, the old district is back together and will be with our old rivals.”
Coach Bachtel lists one of the team strengths is experience. Most of the roster has been at the varsity level for three years. “We can’t have anyone injured,” added Coach Bachtel, “we have more guys that the last two years but we cannot afford to lose anyone.”
The Eagle coaching staff has always shown family type atmosphere in and out of the locker room and the culture nurtures itself to a winning attitude, even in the tough days of a loss or two or even one that is disappointing. “The team likes being around each other and the work really hard. They hold each other accountable and that is exciting to be around daily,” said Coach Bachtel.
Fairfield will depend on some returning health to be key weapons in the Eagle backfield. Seniors Eli Martin and Braiden Barrett will have their number called frequently for offensive production. The leaders at quarterback are Rowdy Hand and Cameron Cockerell and Rex Bean and Jacory Daniels should see significant time out wide in the passing game.
The offensive and defensive lines have been hit hard with graduation the last couple of years bur Samuel Marsters and Julio Roque will return to play a dominant role on both sides of the ball. River Bonds will come into the line for the Eagles and Jonathon Garcia will continue his role as the team kicker and play a larger role in the offensive set.
The Fairfield Eagles open the season at home against the Rusk Eagles and then travel to Brownsboro in week two. They return home to battle the Madisonville Mustangs before the final non-district game on the road to the Robinson Rockets on September 16.
The Eagles open district 8-3A Division I play on the road in Eustace to take on the Bulldogs and then host three time defending district champion Malakoff. The next two weeks are battling the Limestone county rivals, first a road trip to take on district newcomer Mexia and then hosting the Groesbeck Goats on October 14. They travel to Kemp before the open week and then the Freestone County showdown, which could be an important game late in the season, the Teague Lions play at Eagle Field to wrap up the regular season.
Not new faces, but healthy bodies will determine the fate of the Fairfield Eagles and then they can soar to greatness in the 2022 football season.
