The Robinson Rockets scored two touchdowns in the last half of the final quarter and spoiled the potential upset by the Fairfield Eagles Friday night. The 27-24 loss keeps the Eagles winless in district play.
The Fairfield Eagles played perhaps their best game of the year on the offensive side of the ball. Kameron Ransom returned from an injury and took the place calling the signals for the Eagle offense. The demise in this game could have been the four missed extra points by the Eagles in the game.
The Eagles played well on the defensive side as well holding the Robinson offense to 30 points below their season effort. The defensive secondary had 41 passes thrown at them the responded with plays and pressure.
Chase Allison leads Central Texas by double digits in touchdowns and is nearing 3000 passing yards on the season. He hit his favorite target midway through the first quarter on a 39-yard touchdown pass and the early lead. The drive covered 79 yards
The Fairfield offense sputtered and were forced to punt early in the second quarter. The Rocket offense stepped in and Allison threw a pass that was picked off by Jailyn Tatum and he raced 30 yards for the touchdown. The point after failed and Robinson held onto a 7-6 lead with 10:02 remaining in the first half.
Fairfield would take the lead in the second quarter when the Eagle defense forced a punt. The Chase Allison punt chased Tatum backwards and he fielded the punt and returned it 80 yards for the go-ahead scored and the 12-7 lead.
Robinson scored on their next possession when Ashcraft caught his second on three touchdowns on the night. The 15-yard pass put the Rockets ahead at 14-12 with 7:05 remaining in the first half.
Fairfield scored their only offensive touchdown of the first half with 3:17 remaining. Akeem Jackson scored on an 11-yard run and the two-point conversion failed and the Eagles led 18-14 at the half.
The Eagle defense kept the Rockets off the board in a scoreless third quarter and in the fourth quarter, the Fairfield offense took their largest lead of the game. Ransom found Nick Mooneyham for a 73-yard pass and run and the Fairfield Eagles had a double digit lead since the Athens game back in September at 24-14.
Fairfield had the Robinson offense pinned back at their seven-yard line but the Rockets responded with a touchdown drive that ended with a scoring pass to Isaiah Houston from 28 yards out to cut the lead to 24-20.
The Eagle offense needed a couple of first downs to put the game away but had to punt and the Rocket offense returned to the field with just under four minutes to go. The Rockets went 80 yards in 2:12. The Robinson running game was solid in the last drive with several first downs coming on the feet of Jordan Thompson. Ashcraft caught the final touchdown pass of the evening with a 28-yard score with 1:32 left in the fourth quarter.
Fairfield still had an opportunity to win the game. The Eagles moved down the field and Ransom hit Mooneyham with a pass inside the Rocket 15-yard line. As the Eagles moved into offensive formation, Ransom dropped to a knee trying to throw the ball into the ground to stop the clock. The knee touch allowed the clock to continue to move so time expired. The referees talked it over for some time and ruled down by contact and the game was over.
Robinson and Lorena lead District 9-4A Division II with 2-0 records. Conally and Salado each have a 1-1 record and Mexia and Fairfield are winless in district play. Fairfield will return home and face Conally in a pivotal district matchup. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
