The Fairfield Eagles and Mexia Blackcats played to overtime a season ago and the 2023 version did not disappoint as the Eagles scored a late touchdown to put them ahead and pull out a 22-15 home win at Eagle Field Friday night.
The Eagles move into third place in District 8-3A Division I play with the win and have a huge contest Friday night in Groesbeck.
Fairfield took the ball first and marched down the field. The Eagle offense converted two third downs and kept the ball primarily on the ground inside the Blackcat 20-yard line. Quarterback Cameron Cockerell passed to Finn Smith down to the 16 and the drive stalled on a fourth down at the Mexia two-yard line. Cockerell dropped to pass and hit Kohl Collins for the touchdown and the first score of the game with 5:57 remaining in the first quarter. Eli Castillo hit the extra point for the 7-0 lead.
Mexia had their opportunity to answer and sophomore running back Steven Milus picked up a couple of first downs. Senior quarterback Nate Burns, the third different starting quarterback in three weeks, hit Jataveus Bluitt for a 35-yard gain inside the Eagle 30. Bluitt caught a second pass on the drive down to the three-yard line and Burns took care of the final yardage with a three-yard touchdown run. He also added the conversion run and the Blackcats jumped to the lead at 8-7 with 2:44 left in the first quarter.
Fairfield began their second drive and took the remainder of the first quarter and the drive would stall at the Blackcat 11. A holding penalty backed the Eagles up and Castillo came on for a 37-yard field goal attempt. Brian Carter broke through and blocked the kick and took over near midfield.
The teams exchanged possessions with no real threat to score for the remainder of the half and the Blackcats held the 8-7 halftime lead.
Mexia had the first possession of the second half. Burns ripped off a 46-yard run deep into Fairfield territory and was stopped at the four-yard line. Two plays later, Burns scored on a three-yard run and extended the lead. Luis Ortiz added the extra point and the Blackcats led 15-7 with 8:59 remaining in the third quarter.
Much like the first half, the Eagles would answer that first score just as Mexia had answered Fairfield first quarter score. The Eagles used eight plays, the key play coming on a 39-yard pass to Dionicio Azuara down inside the 25-yard line. Jaylon Shed ran for a pair of first downs and Evan Chavers finished the drive with a two-yard touchdown run with just over five minutes remaining in the third quarter. Cockerell passed to Dylon McGowan for the conversion and tied the score at 15-15.
Fairfield made a serious threat to take the lead at the end of third quarter. On the legs of Jaylon Shed, the Eagles advanced to the Blackcat one yard line. After a five-yard penalty on second down, the Eagles faced a third and goal from the six-yard line. Cockerell was sacked by Burns for a loss and the Eagles were flagged for a pair of 15-yard penalties that would move the ball back to the 42-yard line and Fairfield had to punt.
When the Blackcats reached the Eagles side of the fifty, Burns was sacked twice and the Blackcats turned the ball over on downs. Fairfield took the ball later faced a fourth and eight from the Mexia 24-yard line. Cockerell dropped to pass and hit McGowan up the seam for a 24-yard touchdown pass. Castillo added the extra point and the Eagles led 22-15 with 4:04 remaining in regulation.
On the Mexia possession, Burns ran for what appeared to be a 49-yard touchdown run but a flag was thrown for an illegal block and the touchdown came off the board and move the Blackcat offense to the 19-yard line. As the clock moved under two minutes, the Blackcats fumbled and Fairfield took over and ran out the clock, preserving a 22-15 win.
Malakoff leads the district at 3-0 and the Groesbeck Goats are a half game back at 2-0. Fairfield sits in the third-place spot and Teague trails the Eagles by a half game at 1-1. Fairfield will travel to Groesbeck to take on the Goats in a critical matchup in District 8-3A Division I.
(Photos by Natalia V. Marsters)
Additional photos in our Oct. 11th print edition (on newsstands until Tuesday afternoon).
