FAIRFIELD — The Fairfield Indians took another step closer to the Division I playoffs, while Hamilton has one more week to go in what has become a nightmare season.
Fairfield used a bruising ground game to pound out a 47-20 win on Senior Night at Fairfield Stadium.
Here are five takeaways from Friday night’s Greater Miami Conference rivalry showdown:
1. Fairfield can run the ball
The Indians rushed the ball 37 times for 308 yards, the second-best total of the year. The Tribe had 350 yards on the ground against Sycamore, but Friday night, coach Justin Roden was overjoyed to see his team pound the rock.
“I would rather run the ball every single play than throw it,” Roden said. “I have always been that way and that was the way I was on the Colerain staff. The running game is what I believe in.”
Mason Wheeler had a season-high 177 yards on 14 carries while scoring twice.
Wheeler said his offensive line is the best in the city.
“The best O-line in the city,” Wheeler said. “They don’t get the recognition they should, but they are the best offensive line in the city.”
Roden said his group of linemen, led by seniors Austin Schultz, Cameron Crigler and Julian Young, along with juniors Mamby Traore and Ahmad Hicks, is a special group.
“I can’t say enough good about our line,” Roden said. “Our offensive line, I just can’t praise them enough. All those guys just do a great job. They are the hardest-working group we have.”
2. Hamilton limping home at 1-8
Hamilton coach Arvie Crouch said his team just has to stay focused and continue to get better. With a team that makes many mistakes, including 12 penalties Friday, Crouch said his team must continue to work hard and look for better days.
“We will go back to work on Monday,” Crouch said. “Our kids are super positive. We are just not getting it done. We will go back to work like we always do.”
Hamilton has lost six straight, with a running clock in five games. The game against Fairfield was in running-clock mode until Hamilton scored with 2 minutes to go.
The Big Blue lost a couple of coaches this past week to sick leave, but Crouch said the staff hasn’t struggled at all to maintain consistency.
“I am 3-2 against Fairfield and we are going to fix this,” Crouch said. “We are going to be super positive. We are going to keep working hard. The kids are super positive and we will continue to coach them up.”
Crouch maintains he is the right coach to get the Big Blue turned around.
“Absolutely, 100%,” Crouch said. “I turned it around once, I will turn it around again. I will make the necessary changes to get us back on the right track, but we will be on the right track.”
3. Fairfield defense must stiffen up
The Indians continue to be haunted by big plays. Against a Hamilton offense that was dead last in every category in the Greater Miami Conference, the Indians allowed 261 yards and 20 points.
The Big Blue scored on a 28-yard pass, 73-yard run and 63-yard pass, something Roden said the Indians must stop as the playoffs approach.
“The disappointing piece is we are rotating guys in at linebacker, with a sophomore, a junior and none of them played last year,” Roden said. “You can see it. We have moments when they look great and moments they peek inside and don’t go where they are supposed to go. It is frustrating, it really is. We are at the bottom of the league statistically due to the big plays.”
4. Both teams’ special teams and penalties — ouch
Fairfield allowed an onside kick, fumbled a kickoff and missed two extra points, while Hamilton said hold my beer with a missed extra point, shanked punt, fumbled kickoff and multiple penalties and timeouts wasted getting set up.
Crouch said it wasn’t a big issue, despite using three timeouts to get his team set on special teams punts or conversions.
“I don’t know what the exact number was on those, but I don’t think they were extraordinary at all,” said Crouch, who was surprised his team had 12 penalties. “We will address it when we look at it. I will look at it.”
Roden said his special teams are usually solid, but the night was not their best.
“It is interesting because we have played really well on special teams the last month,” Roden said. “We have some things we have really cleaned up. We had guys trying to make plays on kickoffs and the inconsistency with the kicker who has been doing a really good job. That is very, very frustrating and those mistakes will get you beaten in close games.”
5. Fairfield a playoff team, but a lot to clean up
The Indians have won four of their last five to put themselves in playoff contention. A tough game against league leader Princeton awaits, but the Indians should be in the Division I playoff conversation, and Roden said that is the goal.
“It is a mix of young guys, old guys, a sophomore quarterback who is used to playing on Saturdays, not Fridays during varsity games,” Roden said. “It is exciting. With this group you are going to have those roller-coaster moments. Our kids just make mistakes and it is frustrating, but we are coaching them up. Definitely a lot to clean up or the season will end quickly.”
