The Fairfield Mules’ steamroll through the Black Diamond Conference continued Friday with a 53-6 demolishing of the winless Vienna Eagles.
The Mules scored 33 points in the first quarter, started the running clock in the second quarter and played shortened quarters in the second half. The Eagles only roster 17 players this year as they start the rebuilding process under first year coach Nick Bocook.
The Mules went through something similar when head coach Justin Townsend took over in 2001. His first year was the last of four straight 1-8 seasons. That was a lifetime ago, with most on the current Mules roster not even born yet.
Konnor Dagg lays a hit on Vienna quarterback John Bagby.
Now, they will try to finish the regular season undefeated for the third straight time when they travel to Eldorado Friday. They have already clinched their fourth straight BDC title outright. The last time they did not win outright, they shared it with Eldorado in 2016.
The Mules have absolutely dominated the league this year, with a 326-17 scoring advantage. The starting defense has still only allowed one score.
The Mules spread the wealth Friday, with five different players scoring touchdowns. No Mule had more than three carries and 13 different players got carries, while two others had catches.
Cayden Taylor had 56 rushing yards and 26 punt return yards.
The Mules scored on their first eight possessions, including four in the first quarter alone. They finished with 419 total yards despite the shortened game, averaging 13.5 yards per play. The Eagles gained 56 of their 89 yards on the final drive of the game, avoiding the shutout with a touchdown run with 46 seconds left in the game. It was just the second touchdown the Mules have allowed this year.
Wyatt Gilbert ran for 89 yards on just two carries, including an 84-yard scoring scamper on the first drive. Gilbert scored twice, while Cade Carter scored three times. He ran for two, with 49 yards on three carries, and caught a 30-yard touchdown as well.
Kaleb Wells looks for yards and blockers after a screen pass.
Junior quarterback Landon Zurliene threw for 101 yards on eight attempts, with touchdown throws to Carter and Kane Hixenbaugh.
Landon Zurliene threw for 101 yards and two scores, running for another touchdown.
The Mules got their first successful extra point kick from Hunter Scarbrough the previous week. On Friday, the kicking game looked like a well-oiled machine as the senior went 5-of-8 on extra point attempts.
Hunter Scarbrough made five extra point kicks against Vienna.
Elsewhere in the BDC this weekend, Hamilton County beat Sesser-Valier, 32-8; Chester beat Carmi, 28-8; CZR knocked off Johnston City, 34-26; and Eldorado edged Edwards County, 21-20.
BDC Standings
Derek Vaughan had one of two Mule fumble recoveries.
1 2 3 4 F
Vienna (0-8) 0 0 0 6 6
Fairfield (8-0) 33 14 6 0 53
SCORING PLAYS
First Quarter
F—Wyatt Gilbert 84-yard run (Hunter Scarbrough kick), 11:05.
F—Kane Hixenbaugh 11-yard pass from Landon Zurliene (kick failed), 10:38.
F—Cade Carter 44-yard run (Scarbrough kick), 8:01.
F—Gilbert 5-yard run (kick failed), 4:26.
F—Carter 30-yard pass from Zurliene (Scarbrough kick), 2:04.
Second Quarter
F—Carter 3-yard run (Scarbrough kick), 11:19.
F—Landon Zurliene 21-yard run (Scarbrough kick), 3:57.
Third Quarter
F—Blaine Milner 18-yard run (kick failed), 4:05.
Fourth Quarter
V—John Bagby 14-yard run (run failed), :46.
F V
17 First downs 5
23-318 Rushes 32-72
5-8-0 Pass-Att.-Int. 3-5-0
101 Passing yards 17
419 Total Offense 89
13.5 Yards Per Play 2.4
0 Punts-Ave 5-32.8
0 Fumbles-lost 2-2
0 Turnovers 2
1-15 Penalties 1-5
2/4 Third Down Conversions 1/10
1/2 Fourth Down Conversions 0/2
INDIVIDUAL STATS
RUSHING
F –Gilbert 2-89-2, Cayden Taylor 2-56, Carter 3-49-2, Camden Robbins 2-31, Zurliene 2-26-1, Konnor Dagg 1-18, Milner 2-17-1, Kaleb Wells 2-16, Cameron Gardner 2-8, Hunter Scott 1-5, Colin Massie 1-3, Blake Pruitt 1-1, Lucas Halbert 2-(-1). V – Bagby 12-23-1, Gabe Sweet 10-18, Thomas Craig 6-18, Adam Beard 4-13.
PASSING
F—Landon Zurliene 5-8-101 (2 TD). V—Bagby 3-5-17.
RECEIVING
F—Wells 1-33, Carter 1-30-1, Gilbert 1-17, Hixenbaugh 1-11-1, Luke Dagg 1-10. V—Craig 1-11, Dylan Harris 1-6, Adam Beard 1-0.
TACKLES (solo-assists)
F – Noah Kunce 5-0, Hunter Scott 4-0, Ike Downen 3-1, Konnor Dagg 3-0, Kaleb Wells 2-2, Ryan Conrad 2-0, Luke Dagg 2-0, Isaac Sork 2-0, Hunter Murphy 2-0, Jaxon Combs 2-0, Wyatt Gilbert 1-1, Landon Stewart 1-1, Kaelor McGilliams 1-1, Colin Massie 1-0, Cayden Taylor 1-0, Jonathon Scott 1-0, Cameron Gardner 1-0, Blake Pruitt 1-0, Jake Eckleberry 1-0. V—Gavin Pippins 5-0, Ethan Rice 3-0, Jonathon Green 3-0, Mason Poland 2-0, Gabe Sweet 2-0, DJ Homan 1-0, Joe Wilcox 1-0, Dakota Poole 1-0, Thomas Craig 1-0, Dylan Harris 1-0, #86 1-0.
Tackles For Loss—F-Konnor Dagg 1, Conrad 1, Luke Dagg 1, Taylor 1, Scott 1, Gardner 1. V—Rice 1, Sweet 1.
Pass Deflections—F—Pruitt 1.
Fumble Recoveries—F—Taylor 1, Derek Vaughan 1.
I Am Weez 