Fairfield comes back on South Tama

FAIRFIELD — Things weren’t looking good for Fairfield on Friday night against South Tama.

By the half, the Trojans found themselves down by three scores. But after turning things around in the second half Fairfield pulled out the win 33-29.

Fairfield had to dig deep during the 3A District 5 bout, needing nearly every second of the game to find the victory.

The Trojans (2-5) faced a 29-13 deficit at the half, but they were up to the challenge.

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South Tama (0-7) set the tone early.

The Trojans in blue put together a 12-play drive on their opening possession.

A four-yard rushing score from Anthony Thompson followed by a converted two point conversion put South Tama up 8-0 early.

Fairfield responded quickly, scoring in just three plays on their first possession. Luke Konczal followed up a 20-yard rush on his first carry with a 47-yard touchdown on his second.

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The point after was no good and Fairfield trailed 8-6.

Despite the quick score, Fairfield could never get an edge on South Tama in the scoring column through the first half.

South Tama continued its success on the ground, as Cody Blocker found the end zone from seven yards out to make it 15-6.

Fairfield continued to hang around.

On fourth and one, Zandrik Allison found a gaping hole in the South Tama defense and sprinted all the way to the end zone for a 47-yard touchdown run.

Just before the start of the second quarter, the Trojans had it back to a two point game, 15-13.

However, South Tama took control in the second frame.

After blocking a South Tama field goal at the start of the second quarter, the Trojans had a shot to take the lead.

But Fairfield’s Voss Richardson was intercepted on the next drive and South Tama added seven more to its total on a two yard rush making it 22-13.

With a chance to stay right in it before the half, the Trojans were plagued by yet another turnover, this time fumbling with under two minutes to play.

South Tama converted once again, covering 45 yards in six plays and crossing the goal line as the halftime buzzer sounded pushing its lead to 29-13.

Everything changed in the second half, as Fairfield found its groove on both sides of the ball.

Both Allison and Konczal found the end zone in the second half to pull the Trojans back within three, 29-26.

With a chance to put the game on ice, South Tama marched the ball down to the Trojan 36, but a fumbled snap was recovered by Fairfield, giving them a shot to take the lead with just over three minutes to play.

The biggest play of the game came with the Trojans at the South Tama 21-yard line and facing a 4th and 10.

A lofted pass from Richardson was at first incomplete, which would have all but ended the game with the clock at 1:10, but South Tama was tagged with its second roughing the passer giving the Trojans life.

With the ball at the South Tama two, Allison cut through the defensive line to give the Trojans their first lead of the night, 33-29.

The Trojan’s stood firm on South Tama’s final drive, notching an interception to seal it.

Luke Konczal ran for an outstanding 151 yards and two touchdowns in the win.

Zandrik Allison followed with 118 yards and three touchdowns. Ethan Bisgard ended with 66 yards as well.

Bisgard also caught two passes for 26 yards. Voss Richardson threw for 43 yards.

Defensively, Konczal had 16 tackles. Calvin McLain recovered one fumble and Aiden Porter had one interception.

Fairfield is set to take on No. 5 Solon on the road in their next matchup.