Fairfield scores first, but can't slow Solon run game

FAIRFIELD — Fairfield jumped out to an early lead on No. 6 (Class 3A) Solon in the two Class 3A District 5 clash Friday night, but it was Solon getting the last laugh with a 45-25 district victory.

It was a tough night for the Fairfield defense as the Spartans busted out 315 yards on the ground and 404 total to move one game ahead of the Trojans for the district title.

Fairfield came out with an abundance of intensity to start the late night contest.

Solon got the ball first, but just three plays in Fairfield got the ball for the first time on a Cason Miller interception.

The Trojans wasted no time to answer, as just seven plays later Max Weaton hauled in his first touchdown of the night on a 17 yard strike from Tate Allen.

“We did what we wanted to do,” Fairfield head coach Nate Weaton said. “We came out fast defensively and offensively.”

Despite the momentum created by the Trojans, the Spartans were quick to punch back and then some.

Solon put together a seven play drive of its own, and the Spartan’s leading back, Brett White, began to march.

White rushed the ball a handful of times and finished it off with a five yard rush for six. Following an extra point, the Spartans knotted it up a 7-7.

The Solon drive was just the beginning of a dominant first half by the Spartans, as Fairfield wouldn’t score again in the half.

“They came back and to their credit they put seven point right back up on the board,” Weaton said. “I think we just lost confidence in ourselves. We just kind of lost it from there.”

After the opening score by Fairfield, Solon followed with 31 unanswered, putting points on the board on every drive following the opening interception.

On the other hand, Fairfield was forced to punt on four straight drives leading to a 31-7 deficit at the half.

Out of the locker room, the Trojans showed signs of life.

Fairfield put together a 16 play drive, which featured just one run. The Allen to Weaton connection proved strong once again as the two connected for a nine-yard touchdown to make it 31-13.

“I was proud of our guys,” Weaton said. “We came out in the second half and scored. They came out doing what they needed to do.”

For the Trojans to complete the comeback, they would need to slow the juggernaut that is the Spartan offense, but they struggled as Solon would find the end zone once again off the feet of quarterback Blake Timmons.

Timmons capped off another Solon drive with a six-yard touchdown.

Fairfield’s Allen was able to lead the Trojans down the field once again running it in from 10 yards out after a 19 yard completion to Weaton put them at the 10. After a missed two point try, Fairfield trailed 38-19.

Just as fast as Fairfield scored, Timmons finished off the Spartans scoring in just four plays on the ensuing drive with a 59 yard touchdown run to make it 45-19.

The Trojans were able to score once more with Allen finding Weaton for the third time on the night with 21 yard completion, but time was not on the Trojans side in the end.

“We just need to tighten some things up,” Weaton said. “Mistakes plagued us again, from a penalty standpoint. There was some inopportune moments on penalties. If we clean that up, it’s a much different football game.”

Allen finished with 213 yards and three touchdowns through the air. He added a team-high 91 yards on the ground as well.

Max Weaton had seven receptions for 103 yards and three touchdowns. Cason Miller added three catches for 50 yards. Landon Nodurft and Miles McEntee each had three catches as well.

With the loss, Fairfield drops to 4-3 on the season and 2-1 in district play.

The Trojans are now sitting at third in the district. They will take on Washington (3-4, 1-2) next week on the road.