This was supposed to be the season, but in high school football there are no guarantees. After three consecutive undefeated seasons in the Northeastern Corner Conference, the Fairfield Falcons always ran into a 2A sectional buzzsaw in the likes of either Fort Wayne Luers or Jimtown in the playoffs. It was one, maybe two, and done. It takes three wins in Indiana high school football to win a sectional championship.
This year Jimtown had moved up to 3A and the Luers were put in a different sectional. This Fairfield team expected this to be the year. After blowout victories to start the season, The Falcons soared as high as No. 2 in state 2A rankings.
On Sept. 18, quarterback Justin Scott was lost for the season to a knee injury. Three weeks later Lakeland snapped Fairfield’s 33-game regular-season winning streak.
This past Friday, the dream seemed to end when, with 1:45 left in the sectional championship game, Bremen returned an interception for a go ahead score. Not again? Not another empty finish to a season full of promise?
Not this time. Junior quarterback Chase Pinion led the Falcons 80 yards in less than two minutes, throwing the tying touchdown pass to Tanner Foust with five seconds left. Derek Vogelzang converted the extra point to complete the 28-27 win over Bremen.
This team was able to overcome numerous setbacks to accomplish its goal. We applaud them for it. That type of effort, that type of focus is what defines a champion. Congratulations, Falcons. No reason to stop now.
