Trojans welcome Davis County in home opener

Three measly yards.

That?s all that stood between the Fairfield football team and a win in its Week 1 matchup vs. Davis County last season. With the clock winding down in Bloomfield, the Mustangs scored one final touchdown and converted a two-point attempt from three yards out for the 30-29 come-from-behind victory. Fairfield saw a 21-0 lead slip through its fingers in the loss.

As the two teams prepare to meet again Friday in Fairfield?s home opener, every yard should count once more.

Although there will be many new faces on the field for Davis County, including two new co-coaches in Joe Rasmussen and Todd White, the Mustangs might be even better. Davis County is coming off a high following a 43-7 win against Centerville last Friday. The Trojans, meanwhile, fell 27-20 to Albia and are still in search of win No. 1.

Two offensive playmakers who arguably hurt Fairfield most in last year?s meeting, quarterback Josh Martsching and wideout Calvin Mathews, have graduated. Yet, the Mustangs should again look to air the ball out often thanks to the return of senior quarterback Calvin Utt.

Utt, who took snaps for one quarter of the Fairfield game in 2011, went 11-for-16 passing for 162 yards and four touchdowns against the Big Reds last week. He also scrambled his way to 97 yards on the ground and another score.

?Utt is elusive, he scrambles a lot and is a lot like [Albia?s Brett] Leshen,? said Schenck. ?He?s much improved over last year.?

The Mustangs also lost Jacob Davidson, who rushed for the final score against Fairfield in 2011, but new senior running back Colton Roberts appears more than ready to take over. Roberts picked up 123 yards and one touchdown on 18 carries last week.

?They threw the ball well [last week], but Roberts, who?s a big back, has success running between the tackles as well,? said Schenck.

Meanwhile, Fairfield has been focusing on what it did wrong last week in the hopes of adding to what it does right.

?We have to cut down on our mistakes and play a more physical brand of football and be better fundamentally, especially with our tackling,? said Schenck. ?We?ve tackled more in drills [this week], and we?ve tried to eliminate our plays to what we just expect to use in the game.?

Dillon Fry will once again be tasked with carrying a large portion of the weight on his shoulders as the do-it-all quarterback. Dropped balls hurt the Trojans last Friday, but Schenck expects the passing game to bounce back in Week 2.

Wide receiver Alex Shier went down with an injury before last week?s game, though Spencer Peterman and Justin Hammes provide Fry with two big options at wide receiver, and tight end Vince Horras caught his first varsity touchdown last week. Backup running back Jonathan Hoehne, Alex Love and Kyle Weirup may see time at wide receiver, as well.

Mason Carnahan had the most carries in the Trojans? deep backfield against Albia, rushing 10 times for 120 yards and a touchdown, and he should see even more attempts in Week 2.

?I think he?s lost his tentativeness and he?s very confident in his ability,? Schenck said of Carnahan.

The Trojan defense, led by seniors Jake Mineart, Seth Davisson, Austin Deao and Josh Dimmitt, looks to build off last week?s second half shutout.

?Our goal is to do it better,? said Schenck. ?If we can eliminate our first half mistakes, we feel that we can play with the Mustangs.?

Kickoff for the home opener is set for approximately 7:30 p.m. at Trojan Stadium.