Trojans fall on homecoming

FAIRFIELD - Keokuk quarterback Corey Skinner was at his best on Friday night, and that wasn't good news for a packed home crowd at Trojan Stadium. Skinner and the Chiefs spoiled Fairfield's Homecoming game, taking down the Trojans 52-22.

Fairfield's rough night started early. On the second play of the game, quarterback Isaac Harris' pass deflected into the hands of a Keokuk defender. That set up the Chiefs' first touchdown, a 27-yard catch by Callum Tackes. Fairfield's Logan Adam blocked the PAT, but it was 6-0 Keokuk early.

The Trojans used some trickeration to set up a game-tying score. Fairfield faked a punt in their own territory, which turned into a 23-yard reception by Max Weaton. He had another long catch later in the drive, and that set up a 7-yard touchdown pass from Harris to Tate Allen. It was 6-6 after a failed 2-point conversion.

Keokuk scored fast, however. The Chiefs got the ball back with just over one minute to play in the quarter and scored before the buzzer sounded. Skinner dashed into the end zone from 32-yards out, and broke the tie. The 2-point conversion was no good but Keokuk led 12-6.

The Chiefs scored the first three touchdowns of the second quarter and held what looked to be a commanding lead, at 30-6. Fairfield did stage a minor comeback however, to cut the lead back to two possessions.

The Trojans broke Keokuk's scoring run with a defensive score. The Chiefs were backed up inside their own 5-yard line and held in the end zone for a safety. That gave the Trojans two points and the ball.

Trailing 30-8 in the final seconds of the half, Weaton came up big again. Harris found his fellow sophomore on a 3-yard touchdown pass with 21 ticks remaining in the second quarter and Fairfield had the Keokuk lead down to 30-14 at the break.

'Max is playing really well for us, and he's a good target for Ike,” said Trojan head coach Nate Weaton. 'He catches the football and he's good with yards after catch.”

Keokuk, however, put the clamps down in the second half. The Chiefs scored twice in the third quarter and once in the fourth to take a 52-14 lead.

Fairfield was able to get on the board once more before the final buzzer. Harris found Brody Angstead on a 36-yard touchdown pass and then ran it in for two points with 6:19 remaining.

Harris finished the night 11-for-24 for 208 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions. Weaton was his top receiver, catching eight balls for 108 yards and a touchdown. Allen ended the night with three catches for 85 yards and a score.

Payton Cline led the Trojan running game. He scampered for 79 yards on 23 attempts.

Aiden Lyons led the Trojans' defense with 8.5 tackles. Teddy Metcalf had 6.5 tackles on the night.

Skinner finished the game with 295 yards rushing and four touchdowns for Keokuk, and also passed for 160 yards, three scores and zero interceptions. Coach Weaton says his team just didn't perform against the Chiefs' speedy gunslinger.

'Skinner is a good ballplayer,” Coach Weaton said. 'We knew that coming in and had a good game plan for him, but we just didn't execute.”

Fairfield is now 1-5 overall and 0-4 in district play. They'll travel to Fort Madison (5-1, 3-1) next week for their final game of the regular season.