The Fairfield Eagles trailed 29-0 at the halftime break and finished the third straight road game with a 43-14 loss to the Athens Hornets at Bruce Field on Friday night. The Eagles are looking for their first win of the season when the have their home opener against Robinson on Friday night.
The Eagles have played the first three games on the road and are ready to get back home for their first contest at Eagle Stadium when the host the Robinson Rockets this Friday.
Midway through the first quarter, the Hornets got on the board with a long drive. Quarterback Ty Arroyo hit Desmond Garrett for a 22-yard gain to near midfield. Arroyo would take care of the rest with a 16-yard run to the Fairfield 29 and the final 28 on a quarterback keeper for the early 7-0 lead.
With 2:50 remaining in the first quarter, Arroyo ended another drive with touchdown pass to Jordan Crane that covered 16 yards. The conversion was no good and the Hornet lead stretched to 13-0.
Fairfield began their next possession in the shadow of their goalpost and the offense had to punt. The snap went over the punters head and into the endzone. He was tackled there for a safety and the Hornet lead grew to 15-0. On the first play following the free kick Arroyo hit Jamauri Manning a catch and score play that covered 61 yards and the Hornets collected nine points in the span of a few seconds. The Eagles trailed 22-0.
Athens would add a final touchdown before the end of the half when Arroyo and Garrett teamed up in the passing department. The wide receiver screen sent Garrett to the goal line and the 29-0 halftime lead.
The Eagle offense made a deep threat near the end of the first half. Eli Martin and Braiden Barrett move the ball across midfield. Martin had runs of nine and eight yards later in the drive to set up the Eagle offense at the Athens 12-yard line. The drive stalled Fairfield set up to attempt a 21-yard field goal, however, the snap was high and the attempt was not completed and the Eagles trailed 29-0 at the half.
Trailing 36-0, the Eagle defense stepped to center stage. The Athens offense, operating inside their 20-yard line, dropped to pass and Arroyo was sacked by Carson Shipley and the ball bounced into the end zone Gabriel Grecu recovered for the defensive touchdown and cut the lead to 36-6.
After another touchdown pass in the final quarter, the Eagles matched it with a three-yard touchdown run late in the game to set the final score of 43-14.
(Photos by Ashlyn Garcia)
