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Washington Evening Journal
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Fairfield gets it done
Trojans finally exorcise Demons, snap 11-year streak
FAIRFIELD — On Friday night at Trojan Stadium, the Fairfield football team celebrated a win 14 years in the making.
That’s how long it had been since the Trojans had defeated Washington in the Highway 1 Rivalry.
The Demons’ 11-game win streak had kept Washington out of the loser’s column in the rivalry since 2009, but it all came to an end on Friday, as the Trojans held off the Demons 23-20.
“That's kind of what you show up for on a Friday night,” said Fairfield head coach Nate Weaton. “These kids should live for this moment, and it was just really special to be able to pull away with the win.”
The win also wiped away some memories from a 20-point Demon comeback last year at Case Field, and much like that night last fall, it was Fairfield that threw the first punch.
The Trojans dominated the first half. Fairfield pounded the ball over and over again with junior running backs Cason Miller and Wyatt Johnson, but it was a quarterback making his first start that officially drew first blood.
Sam Weaton, who swapped spots with Landon Nodurft after two games, showed off his legs in the first half. He broke the scoreless tie with a 4-yard rushing score with 6:11 showing in the first quarter.
The Trojans would score once more in the first half, as Carter Moore nailed a 24-yard field goal later in the quarter.
“We didn't start the game well, again,” said Washington head coach Nick Ehret. “That's just something we have to get figured out.”
Fairfield marched down inside the 25-yard line in the final minutes of the second quarter, but couldn’t put another score on the board. That proved costly, as Washington quarterback Logan McDole led the charge downfield and found Mason Morgan on a 9-yard touchdown pass, making it 10-6 just before half.
“In the locker room at halftime, our defensive coordinator put a heart on our white board,” Sam Weaton said. “It kind of meant, ‘The last three years we've had Washington down at this time. Are we going to quit or are we going to get over that edge and beat them?’”
When the two teams came out of halftime, Washington kept the good times rolling. McDole busted a run up the middle and burned the Trojan defense for a 68-yard touchdown run. A second-straight two-point conversion found, but all of the sudden, Washington led 12-10.
But the Trojans didn’t give up on their game plan. Fairfield continued to trust the run game, and that led to two scores by Miller, a 25-yard touchdown run on 4th-and-1, and a 1-yard touchdown run later in the third quarter to make it 23-12 Trojans.
“Overall I'm just really proud,” said Coach Weaton. “We didn't give up. We didn't stop.”
Washington’s defense played well late in the game, but the Demon offense still struggled to find its footing. Two separate drives were ended via turnover, as Tallon Bates picked off a pass to set up Miller’s second touchdown run, and Caden Allison recovered a fumble on the first play of the fourth quarter.
Washington, however, clawed back once more. McDole set up his own 1-yard touchdown run with a long bomb to Morgan, which cut the lead to 23-20 after a two-point conversion with 6:10 remaining in the game.
The Demon defense forced a Fairfield punt in the final minutes, and Washington had over three minutes to try and drive the field to tie or win the game, but Washington turned the ball over on downs, and Fairfield could kneel it out.
In all, the Trojans ran for 319 yards and three touchdowns. Washington threw for 104 yards and rushed for 218.
The win moved Fairfield to 2-1 on the year, with both wins coming over chief rivals Mt. Pleasant and Washington. The Trojans host Keokuk (1-2) on Friday.
Washington is now 1-2 overall this season. The Demons return home to take on Grinnell (2-1) on Friday.
