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Trojans run wild, but lose
Fairfield drops shoot out with Mediapolis
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
FAIRFIELD — Homecoming night at Fairfield High School saw 76 total points hit the board, as the Trojans hosted, but lost, their second-straight high-scoring game.
The offenses were buzzing all night for both the hosting Trojans and visiting Mediapolis, but it was the Bulldogs who found the end zone one more time, winning 42-34.
The Trojan run defense was tested all night, as Mediapolis running back Parker Holstein went for 207 yards and four scores, while the Bulldogs ran for 300 yards and two touchdowns as a team.
“He did a great job running the ball,” said Fairfield head coach Matt Jones. “He ran the ball so hard, and our kids had a tough time tackling him.”
Fairfield ran for 266 yards and four scores themselves, but could never get the stops it needed to even things up after falling behind early.
Holstein broke the scoring open with 6:27 remaining in the first half, pushing forward on a 5-yard touchdown run. Fairfield hit right back, as Voss Richardson hit Zandrik Allison on a 10-yard score, but the two-point conversion failed and the Bulldogs led 7-6.
The first play of the second quarter was a 20-yard touchdown for Mediapolis’ Brock Spears. Fairfield hit right back when Spencer McCready sneaked up the middle for a 51-yard dash to the end zone, but another failed conversion kept Mediapolis on top, at 14-12.
Ethan Bisgard scored on a 17-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter, but that was sandwiched by two Mediapolis scores, and Fairfield found itself down 28-18 at the half.
Fairfield scored first in the third quarter, as McCready dashed for a 20-yard touchdown, and Bisgard punched it in for two points, but that’s as close as the Trojans would get.
Mediapolis scored twice more before the next Fairfield touchdown. The Bulldogs were up 35-26 after the third quarter, and 42-26 in the final minutes.
Needing two touchdowns and two two-point conversions to tie, the Trojans cut the lead in half with 4:02 remaining. Allison pushed forward for a three-yard touchdown run, and the two-point conversion was good, meaning Fairfield still had a chance.
Now down eight points, at 42-34, Fairfield needed to stop Mediapolis to get the ball back for one last prayer, but unfortunately the Bulldog run game kept moving the chains, and Mediapolis got out with a win.
After rushing for a ridiculous 394 yards the week prior, the Trojans had another fantastic game offensively, led by Bisgard’s 106 yards on the ground, 42 yards through the air and a rushing touchdown.
Despite just carrying the ball four times, McCready ran for 80 yards and two touchdowns. Allison ran for 57 yards and a score, while also catching the only touchdown pass, and Richardson threw for 52 yards and a touchdown.
“That’s encouraging, but I think that’s part of the challenge too,” said Coach Jones about the offense. “Teams are going to start throwing some different things at us, and we’re going to need to be able to stay in our minds, and follow our rules.”
Defensively, Aiden Mizelle had a huge game, leading the way with nine tackles, seven of which were solo. The Trojan defense was unable to get a takeaway.
Despite being 0-3 to start the year, Fairfield has already scored 84 points on the season, maybe good omen as the Trojans travel to Knoxville (0-3) for another non-district road game next week.
