“Special teams is something we take a lot of pride in,” Fairfield coach Jason Krause said. “We work at doing those small things well in special teams, and it showed tonight.”
Scott finished the night with 115 return yards and an interception on defense for the Indians, who improved to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in Greater Miami Conference play.
“Josiah is a big part of our team and our specials,” Krause said. “His speed and his ability to just play the game are great.”
The special teams’ discrepancies were the difference in an otherwise even game statistically. The Firebirds (0-5, 0-2) totaled 220 yards offensively, while Fairfield compiled just 207 yards.
“We fought for four quarters,” West coach Larry Cox said. “I know that we gave them a game, even though the scoreboard is not indicative of that.
“Our special teams accounted for 17 points. So really, our defense only gave up 12. We’ve still got the turnover bug, though. I don’t know when we’re going to get rid of that, because that’s what’s killing us right now.”
The Firebirds lost two fumbles and quarterback Tony White was picked off twice to bring his total to 11 on the season.
Following an errant punt snap through the back of the end zone that gave Fairfield a 2-0 lead, West put together their lone scoring drive of the evening as Robinson gave the Firebirds a brief 7-2 lead with an 83-yard touchdown run.
Robinson accounted for 170 of West’s 220 yards, picking up 160 rushing yards on 22 carries as well as catching three passes for 10 yards.
“That’s a good defense,” Cox said. “And we were able to run on them, even if it was sporadically. Our offensive line showed great improvement tonight.”
Fairfield mixed a solid rushing attack with its standout special teams to extend leads late in the second and third quarters.
Senior quarterback Aaron Carmack earned his second rushing touchdown of the year to stretch the Fairfield lead to 15-7 late in the second quarter. Senior running back James Mitchell, the Tribe’s leading rusher (16 carries, 82 yards), scored his first rushing TD of the season to make it a 22-7 game late in the third quarter.
“Our message (going forward) is that the schedule just gets tougher,” Krause said. “We have a great team in Sycamore next week. And with the improvement of teams like Oak Hills, Princeton and Hamilton, we know that there are no breaks in the GMC. We have to keep getting better at practice and continue to put in the work.”
Next Friday, the Indians will be at home against Sycamore and West will visit Princeton.
Fairfield 8-7-14-0—29
Lakota West 7-0-0-0—7
F: Safety, punt snap out of the end zone
LW: Zelwyn Robinson 83 run (Will Nguyen kick)
F: Josiah Scott 98 kickoff return (Run failed)
F: Aaron Carmack 2 run (Jerred McGuire kick)
F: James Mitchell 5 run (McGuire kick)
F: Scott 42 fumble return (McGuire kick)
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