Daily Newsletters
Account
Washington Evening Journal
111 North Marion Avenue
Washington, IA 52353
319-653-2191
Fairfield falls in Week 2 thriller
Trojans come up just short in battle with Centerville
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
The final moments of Fairfield’s matchup against Centerville didn’t spare any drama. Penalties took away back-to-back touchdown throws on the Trojans’ last drive, which ended in a 44-38 Centerville win.
Needing a touchdown to tie the game, Fairfield faced a fourth-and-2 on Centerville’s 17-yard line with just over three minutes remaining. The Trojans not only picked up the first down, but found the end zone on a pass from Voss Richardson to Ethan Bisgard.
But a flag in the backfield brought the play back for a holding call.
Now faced with fourth-and-12, Richardson rolled out to his right and fired a pass to a wide open Spencer McCready, who caught it in the end zone. But the officials deemed Richardson crossed the line of scrimmage, which made his throw an illegal forward pass.
That resulted in a loss of down and Centerville took over. It picked up one first down and took a knee to hang onto the win.
“They absolutely gave everything that they could,” Fairfield coach Matt Jones said of his players. “They did everything they we asked them to do... especially attitude and effort and things they could control. They were phenomenal.”
Despite the gut-wrenching ending, the Trojans maintained stride with a free scoring Big Reds team that was fresh off a 50-point game in Week 1. Fairfield churned out a strong attack on the ground. Five players logged rushing touchdowns.
McCready, Zandrik Allison and Brady Wigle all found the end zone for the first time this season. Allison and Bisgard each eclipsed 100 yards rushing. When one running back got a carry in the Trojans T formation offense, the other two backs blocked and worked play fakes to open up running lanes.
“If you think about that, I don’t have the ball, but I’m running as if I have the ball,” Jones said. “I’m trying to bring eyes to me and I might get tackled or hit to help my buddy. I mean, it is the ultimate definition of selflessness.“
Wigle’s touchdown came from a yard out to tie the game at 38. Richardson also recorded his first rushing touchdown of the season to make it 32-30 Fairfield in the third quarter.
McCready had the best run of the game earlier in the third. On Fairfield’s ensuing drive after Centerville took a two-score lead, McCready shot through a gap at the line of scrimmage, bounced to the left side and raced 42-yards to the end zone and trimmed Centerville’s advantage to four points.
Allison scored with a 1-yard run to give Fairfield a 20-16 lead in the second quarter. Richardson also logged a passing touchdown when he found Blake Burnett from 25 yards out to put Fairfield up 14-8. The Trojans also took the first lead of the game when Bisgard scored his third touchdown of the season.
Defensive lineman Nolan Smith picked off Centerville quarterback Mack Murdock on the Big Reds next drive, but the play was called back for roughing the passer. Centerville capitalized and took an 8-7 lead into the second quarter.
Fairfield will look to get in the win column when it faces Mediapolis in its homecoming game. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday at Fairfield High School.
