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FAIRFIELD, Ill. (WEHT) — The Fairfield high school football team is using their controversial end to the season last year as fuel for the Mules.
In the playoff last season, Fairfield lost to Porta 9-8 after the Blue Jays were wrongfully awarded a fifth down to a game-winning field goal. Before the loss, the Mules were playing some of the best football they had played all year. Now they’re hoping to keep that momentum going into a the new season.
“We were kind of finding ourselves late in the season,” said head coach Justin Townsend. “Kind of figuring out some things that were working well for us. And you know we’ve been able to use that, kind of build on it at the start of camp this year.”
Fairfield won their final two games of the regular season before the playoff loss by a combined margin of 100-37.
“We were playing really really good football. Just came off a senior night where all our backs did really really well. So, I mean it’s great motivation coming into the season,” said fullback Cooper Berg.
Following last year, the Mules lost a big group of senior that has caused a hole in the defense. Now more players are in line to play on both sides of the ball than the team typically has in the past. But with the work they’ve put in during the offseason in the weight room Fairfield believes they’re built for the heavy workload.
Coach Townsend said, “I think we’re just bigger, stronger, (and) faster. We’ve done what we needed to in the weight room. I like our athleticism at the skills positions. We have good size up front but they aren’t just big this year they’ve gotten strong. I’m excited to see what they can do in the trenches.”
“We’re bigger, we’re stronger, and I think we’re honestly smarter than previous years,” said linebacker Aiden King. “We’ve (got) good leaders and in all aspects of the game we’re better I feel like.”
This year’s team is confident that they have what it takes to do what no other team in school history has done. Make it past the second round of the playoffs.
“I 100 percent feel like we have the group to do that. We have a lot of returners in the junior class, now senior class. And the junior class this year will be pretty good,” said Berg.
King echoed, “I feel like we definitely have a chance to go far. Honestly, we have all the potential to be really great this season.”
Coach Townsend said the team rarely talks about the results of last year’s playoff loss, but it has fueled their mantra this year.
“Our mindset is to leave no doubt this year,” he said. “And if we’re in that position, hopefully we don’t leave a doubt this year. We win the game outright and there is no controversy.”
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