Trojans hope to carry momentum into Chariton

While Fairfield has jumped to the top of the Class 3A, District 7 standings to start the season, the Chargers have found themselves going the opposite direction.

The Trojans (3-1), coming off a big 49-12 win against Fort Madison last week, have streaked to a 2-0 record in district play. Contrarily, the Chargers (0-4) are coming off a 48-13 loss at the hands of Keokuk and have yet to find the win column in 2011.

The Chargers are a run-first squad, but their rushing game has often been completely shut down this season. Overall, the Chargers? ground game has tallied just 326 yards with two touchdowns and a 2.3 yards-per-carry average. Leading rushers Matt Schultz and Turner Trenary have combined for 183 of those yards.

The Trojans? No. 1 priority on defense will be to shut down Chariton?s rushing game and force sophomore quarterback Christian Bengtson into passing situations. Bengtson has completed just 23-of-56 passes for 286 yards this season.

?What we have to be concerned with is their counter play, the wingback counter,? said Schenck. ?That will then force them into passing situations much like we did with Fort Madison.?

Eliminating the big play and creating turnovers also will help determine whether the Trojans come out on top Friday, according to Schenck, and that success or failure will begin with senior defensive leaders Tanner Metcalf, Cody Kool and Davis Lowenberg. The trio has combined for 42 stops this season, including 12 tackles for losses and three sacks.

Offensively, Schenck is again hoping for a balanced attack and a 50-50 run-pass ratio. The balance begins with quarterback Dillon Fry, who leads the team both on the ground and through the air and has racked up 412 rushing yards and 595 yards passing in just four games.

Fry?s favorite targets, Corbin Harwood, Davis Lowenberg and Spencer Peterman, will be at his disposal.

Running back Zach Vivier is coming off a three-touchdown performance last week and should continue to carry the load at running back. Others who have shared carries with Vivier in the previous few weeks include junior Justin Hammes, who has averaged 7.2 yards per carry, and Metcalf.

The Trojans remain relatively healthy, although wide receiver/defensive back Max Johnson is questionable with a high ankle sprain. Alec Stoner returns, however, to provide the Trojans with a little more depth on the offensive and defensive lines after missing the first four weeks of the season.

Since beating Fairfield in the 2004 regular season ? the Chargers won the district that year before losing to Fairfield in the postseason ? Chariton has failed to beat the Trojans and most recently lost 34-14 in 2010. And even though Chariton is 0-4, Fairfield isn?t going into the game expecting a cakewalk.

?Their program has a long proud tradition, and their kids can play hard, especially at home,? said Schenck.

?We?re coming into the tough part of our schedule, and I think it?s going to be important that we continue to make improvement with each week,? he added.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in Chariton.

At a Glance

What ? Fairfield vs. Chariton

Records ? Fairfield (3-1), Chariton (0-4)

Last week ? Fairfield 49, Fort Madison 12 ? Keokuk 48, Chariton 13

Players to watch ? RB Zach Vivier (FF): Vivier carried the ball 14 times for 121 yards in Week 4 and scored three touchdowns. This week, Vivier should again find plenty of space to run against a Chariton defense that has allowed 8.1 yards per carry in its last two games; QB Christian Bengtson (CH): If Chariton?s running game can?t get going, the Chargers will need a career day from their sophomore quarterback, who has completed just 41 percent of passes in 2011.

Last meeting ? Sept. 24, 2010: Fairfield 34, Chariton 14

? 3A District 7 ?

Ft. Madison (1-3) @ Mt. Pleasant (2-2)

Pella (3-1) @ Centerville (1-3)

Keokuk (4-0) @ Oskaloosa (2-2)