FAIRFIELD —
The district match-up between the Westwood Panthers and the Fairfield Eagles was a tale of two halves.
The first half showcased a close, physical game.
The second saw the Panthers again commit late turnovers that helped turn the tide for Fairfield en route to a 39-14 Eagle win.
“It’s almost like we take last week and repeat it,” WHS coach Roger Mays said, citing Westwood’s Week 6 loss to Madisonville in which the Panthers had three turnovers in the fourth quarter of a 24-7 loss.
Westwood led after the first half, 7-6, thanks to a rushing touchdown from 15 yards out from Dominique Mickens.
“We felt real good (at the half), we came in and had confidence,” Mays said. “We had to kick-off to them and needed a big stop and didn’t get it. They got a couple real quick.”
Fairfield opened the third quarter with another rushing touchdown from Cain, this time on a quarterback sneak from the one-yard line. A failed 2-point conversion made the score 12-7 in favor of the Eagles at the end of the 3rd quarter.
At the start of the 4th quarter, after forcing a turnover on downs, Fairfield's Larry Rose scored from four yards out, extending the Eagles lead to 18-7.
After a Westwood punt, Rose scored again, this time taking it in from 60 yards out, making the score 25-7.
On the ensuing kickoff, Westwood fumbled the ball in their own territory. Eleven plays later, Cain connected with Cooper Cole on a 14-yard touchdown pass asserting their dominance in the second half, 32-7.
Another Westwood fumble on the kickoff set up a 9-yard run from Alex Ward for Fairfield, making the score, 39-7.
Westwood finally found the endzone with seconds to go when Nick Hicks ran in from a yard out. Fairfield knelt on the ball, completing their 39-14 win.
Fairfield was the first to get the offensive wheels rolling in the second quarter, as a 16-play drive ended with a two-yard run by quarterback Aaron Cain to give the Eagles a 6-0 lead.
The first quarter ended in a 0-0 tie after both teams were plagued by penalties and the opposing defenses.
Aaryon Robinson led the Panthers with 80 yards rushing on 10 carries, while Mickens added 49 yards on only five in his second game back this season.
“He really responded,” Mays said. “We put him in at quarterback...and he stepped in and played big for us.”
Nick Hicks finished with 37 yards rushing, while Keke Hicks had 29 yards on the ground.
Westwood (2-5, 0-2), will try to get their first district win next week, as they welcome in Groesbeck (1-6, 0-2).
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Sports editor Justin Rains contributed to this report
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