Published: October 11, 2008 12:09 am         

Falcons win showdown

Alic Vanover’s second 95-yard interception return for a touchdown Friday night sealed Fairfield’s third consecutive Northeast Corner Conference title.

Vanover scored four touchdowns in the 41-30 high school football victory over Churubusco on Homecoming Night at Fairfield.

Things looked grim for Fairfield in the fourth quarter, though, after a bad snap on a punt gave the Eagles a safety and closed the gap to 34-30.

On the ensuing kickoff, Churubusco drove to the 21 with less than four minutes remaining. Quarterback Cameron Amber then attempted a pass to a receiver at the goal line.

But Vanover stepped up to the 5 and picked off the pass, then headed down the right sideline. One defender had a chance to stop him short of the goal line but Vanover threw him a couple of fakes, pausing the defender, then blew past him to the end zone.

“I had the determination (to score),” Vanover said. “I saw nothing but green in front of me. I felt I could get past him.”

Vanover had another 95-yard interception return in the second quarter.

Fellow senior Brock Vail also had a big night with two touchdowns and a key interception on the Eagles’ series after Vanover’s interception.

Fairfield (8-0, 8-0 NECC) visits Culver Military Academy in a non-conference game next Friday.

Vail set the tone for the Falcons by returning the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown. He had predicted the play.

“Before the game I was calling it,” he said. “I said we needed to run it back.”

Falcon coach Bob Miller had worried about Churubusco all week, for good reason.

“This was the longest week of my life and today was the longest day of my life,” he said. “They’re an outstanding football team that executes well.”

Statistically and on the clock, the Eagles dominated the game. They rushed for 292 yards and threw for 99 more, and converted 21 first downs.

Churubusco had eight drives of seven or more plays and had 67 plays from scrimmage. Fairfield ran just 33 plays.

“I told my staff that I’m glad they didn’t run their trap all night long,” Miller said. “We threw everything we had defensively at it.”

But the Falcon defense made big stops when it needed to and intercepted five times.

Fairfield also got some breaks, perhaps none bigger than a face mask penalty at the end of the first half.

Churubusco drove down to the 1 at the end of the second quarter and let the clock run as much as possible, trying to keep the ball away from Fairfield’s offense.

The Eagles finally punched it in on fourth down with just three seconds on the clock, making the score 28-21. Churubusco would also receive the opening kickoff of the second half.

With three second remaining, though, the Eagles had to kick off. They bounced it on the ground, forcing a short return. But an Eagle defender was flagged for a face mask penalty, putting the ball at the Fairfield 40.

Even though no time remained on the clock, the Falcons still had a play to run since the half can’t end on a defensive penalty. The handoff went to Vanover, who found a seam on the left side, then cut back across the middle for a 60-yard touchdown.

“I wanted to go to split end and do a Hail Mary,” Vanover said. “But the coaches said keep it safe in your hands and see if something happens.

“The line blocking was excellent and they made a hole for me.”

That made it 34-21 at the half, and Fairfield appeared to get a break early in the third quarter when Jacob Yoder intercepted a pass at the Eagle 35 and returned it to the 25. But the Falcons fumbled the snap from center and Churubusco recovered at their own 13.

They then marched downfield for a touchdown that pulled them within six.

After a Fairfield punt, the Eagles looked set for at least tie when they drove to the 14. But a sack by linebacker Micah Noble set up fourth and goal from the 24 and the next pass was incomplete.

But the Falcons could do nothing and were forced to punt from the 24. The snap sailed high and out of the end zone for a safety, making it 34-30.

That set up the drive that ended in Vanover’s interception return.

Vanover also threw a 54-yard pass in the first quarter to Vail that took the Falcons to the 8. He then scored on the next play.

Vail’s second touchdown came on a perfect 28-yard pass from Justin Scott that just cleared double coverage.

Jordan Hamilton rushed for 156 yards for Churubusco. Vanover rushed for just 75 yards on 10 carries, 60 of those on run just before halftime.