Trojans set to declaw Panthers

While the Trojans can?t control how quickly their new offense will grow and develop, the team showed great discipline in a week one victory over Williamsburg, committing only two penalties and not turning the ball over. If that can continue this week with a tough Knoxville squad coming to Trojan stadium, Fairfield should have a good chance to avenge a 46-23 loss to the Panthers in week three of last season. Here?s a quick look at Fairfield?s week two showdown with Knoxville on Friday night:

Fairfield Trojans

Record: 1-0

Statistical leaders:

Passing: Cameron Baumann: 6-12, 80 yards, three TD, zero INT;

Rushing: Brandon Smithburg: 24 att. 125 yards;

Receiving: Tristin Waugh: three catches, 64 yards, TD.

Tackles: Michael Fritz: 11.

Last week: 25-22 W @ Williamsburg:

Cameron Baumann threw for three touchdown passes despite only completing six passes, leading the Trojans to a week one victory over the Raiders. Simon Spalla scored the first touchdown of Fairfield?s season with a fumble recovery in the end zone, one of two turnovers the Trojans forced out of Williamsburg. Sophomore tight end Tristin Waugh rumbled 45 yards for his first touchdown of the season on a catch-and-run play from Baumann.

Knoxville Panthers

Record: 1-0

Statistical leaders:

Passing: Jacob Zuck: 7-8, 154 yards, two TD, zero INT;

Rushing: Titus Chapman, five attempts, 111 yards, one TD;

Receiving: Trent Davis: four catches, 83 yards, TD;

Tackles: Joe Oldham: six.

Last week: 34-0 W vs. Chariton:

Jacob Zuck completed seven of his eight passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns as the Panthers steamrolled Chariton 34-0. Three of Knoxville?s five touchdowns went for 60-plus yards, as Titus Chapman scored an 86-yard rushing touchdown and a 64-yard receiving touchdown on his only catch, while Joe Hollinrake rushed for two scores, including a 73-yard scamper for six. Knoxville forced four turnovers, intercepting two passes and recovering a pair of fumbles to lead their defensive efforts.

Containment Defense:

The Panthers love to get the big play out of star quarterback Jacob Zuck, who is extremely efficient with the ball. Fairfield will need to prepare to contain Zuck the same way they did Williamsburg?s quarterbacks, forcing 12 incomplete passes out of 21 attempts. If the Trojans? defense can force Zuck into making a couple poor throws and capitalize on those mistakes, Fairfield will have a much better chance of victory over Knoxville. But, if Titus Chapman and Joe Hollinrake can sneak out of the backfield into open space, the Trojans will have a long night ahead of them.

Taking a bow:

Cameron Baumann had a fantastic game against Williamsburg and expect that to continue throughout the season as he builds a rapport with his young group of receivers. He only completed six passes, but three of them were for touchdowns, including a two-yard strike under pressure to a wide-open Denver Schultz in the corner of the end zone. Defensively, Baumann slipped in front of a pass for an easy interception to help seal the game away. The dual-threat quarterback is going to be a force this season and will likely turn some heads as the weeks roll on.

Spread the ball:

Out of the six passes Baumann completed, they went to four different receivers in Hunter Hoskins, Cade Lisk, Schultz and Tristin Waugh. Add in Carson Crile to the mix as a receiver as well as another tight end in Steeler Higdon and Baumann has plenty of options in terms of receivers. Without a clear-cut No.1 guy, Knoxville and subsequent opponents will have to work on defending the whole field, which should open up some nice running lanes for Baumann and Brandon Smithburg.

Injury watch:

Sophomore tackle Austin Simpson left Friday night?s game with a knee injury and his status is still unknown for the Knoxville game and the remainder of the season. The biggest lineman of the group, Simpson?s ability at right tackle to open holes for the run game will be a big loss for the Trojans if his injury was as bad as it looked. The silver lining is that Fairfield has a lot of depth at the offensive line position and many players who gained experience there last season, so the Trojans should be able to find someone to plug in to that spot and continue to see success up front.