Fairfield

Mark Braam

Football 8/25/2025 12:00:00 PM Mark Braam

Fairfield Loses Opener on Late Score

Next week, Indians in Middletown

Football 8/25/2025 12:00:00 PM Mark Braam

Fairfield Loses Opener on Late Score

Next week, Indians in Middletown

Fairfield kept it close until near the end, but lost its season-opener Friday night at Dayton Wayne, 31-24.

Fairfield jumped out to an early lead with a 3-yard touchdown run by quarterback Dominic Back with 3 seconds left in the first quarter.

Wayne scored three times straight – on a 35-yard field goal, a 97-yard kickoff return and a 76-yard pass – to take a 16-7 lead, but then Hunter Gagen kicked a 25-yard field goal to bring the Indians back within 6 at 16-10.

Gallery: undefined

Wayne scored one more early in the 4th quarter to go up 23-10. Things looked grim for the Tribe, but then Mason Thomas scored on a 21-yard pass from Back, and, with 5:37 remaining, Corrious Booker broke free for a 35-yard rushing TD.

The extra point by Gagen gave Fairfield a 24-23 lead, but then Wayne scored with 3:49 remaining on a 39-yard pass and a 2-point conversion to give the Warriors a 31-24 victory margin.

Fairfield controlled the ball for most of the game and dominated in statistics, but the two long scores by Wayne were essentially the difference.

Back was 16/30 for 159 yards passing, while running 12 times for 21 yards. Sir'Ronald Floyd caught four passes for 47 yards, while Kayvon Burns caught 4/39 and Gregory Lawrence 3/38.

Gagen's Field Goal Is Good!
Fairfield 10
Wayne 16
0:43 Third Quarter pic.twitter.com/V4jOR3oLKB
— Aaron Blankenship (@fcsdathletics) August 23, 2025

Booker carried the ball five times for 63 yards to lead rushers, Mason Wheeler was 7/57 and Michael LaCue was 10/41.

Defensively, Marcos Tiderman led the Indians with 10 tackles (7 solo), while Axsel Rogers had 4.

Fairfield, led by new coach Justin Roden, next travels to Middletown on Aug. 29.

For more photos of the Fairfield/Wayne game, go to fairfieldindians.com/galleries.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#17 Dominic Back: Junior

#22 Kayvon Burns: Sophomore

#87 Mason Thomas: Sophomore

#0 Sir'Ronald Floyd: Senior

#30 Hunter Gagen: Junior

#8 Axsel Rogers: Junior

#40 Marcos Tiderman: Senior

#24 Mason Wheeler: Junior

Players Mentioned

#17 Dominic Back
: Junior

#22 Kayvon Burns
: Sophomore

#87 Mason Thomas
: Sophomore

#0 Sir'Ronald Floyd
: Senior

#30 Hunter Gagen
: Junior

#8 Axsel Rogers
: Junior

#40 Marcos Tiderman
: Senior

#24 Mason Wheeler
: Junior