Falcons fall to Jaguars in season opener

FAIRFIELD — The Fairfield High football team got its season off to a rocky start with a 33-26 loss to visiting Bethel at Schaefer Stadium Friday night.

An early fumble spelled the difference in the game for the Falcons (0-1), who nonetheless put forth a solid effort on both sides of the ball.

“It’s a young team, and we don’t have the numbers, so guys get tired,” said Fairfield coach Jack Canavesio. “We just have to work on our mistakes.”

The game opened with Fairfield quarterback Keith Williams missing a pitch in the backfield, and Bethel recovering it at its own 30-yard line.

New under center this year for Fairfield, Williams finished with 12 completions on 22 attempts with one interception for 160 yards.

Fairfield got the ball back on the very next play as the defense slammed into Jaguars running back K’lan Anderson and the ball popped straight up in the air and into Falcon hands.

That set up a five-play, 25-yard scoring drive for Fairfield that ended with Williams dashing 3 yards up the middle for a 6-0 lead after a missed kick.

Bethel answered on the next drive, taking a 7-6 lead it never surrendered on an Estes Cutrer run.

The lead nearly doubled on the next play from scrimmage as Williams was steamrolled by Bethel linebacker Deaundray Taylor at the Falcons’ 10-yard line. Taylor scooped up the ball and dove into the end zone for a 13-6 lead.

Bethel went up 19-6 with 7 minutes, 27 seconds to play in the first half on a 2-yard run by Rashad Dudley.

Williams responded by driving the Falcons 56 yards after a 32-yard kickoff return by Cedric Taylor. Taylor led the Falcons’ ground attack with 68 yards on 13 carries.

The drive ended with Williams scrambling 4 yards around the right side for the score to get within 19-14 after his 2-point conversion run.

Bethel added another TD with 36 seconds to play in the half, going up 25-14 at the break.

Fairfield improved after halftime, and the defense held the visitors to just one second-half score.

Bethel’s Taylor coughed the ball up on the first play of the second half and Fairfield recovered, setting up a quick five-play drive that ended with Williams floating a towering pass to David Gustafson to get Fairfield within 25-20 with 9:29 to go in the third quarter.

Bethel scored once more with 5:31 left in the third, making it 33-20 after three.

The fourth quarter was filled with turnovers on downs, with Fairfield finally making something after Bethel failed to convert on fourth down at the 50.

Cedric Taylor ended the game with a 4-yard run up the middle to get within 33-26. An onsides kick attempt with 19 seconds left failed, allowing Bethel to run out the clock.

 Reach Mike Corpos at 427-6979 or mcorpos@dailyrepublic.net.

Short URL: http://www.dailyrepublic.com/?p=83379

Posted by Mike Corpos on Sep 2 2011.

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