The Fayette Falcons picked up a much-needed first win on Friday, running over the first-year varsity Linn Wildcats, 60-6, to open Central State 8 Conference action.

The win spoiled the first-ever Homecoming game for the Wildcats, who are playing their inaugural season of varsity football. They won their first varsity game the week prior, defeating Missouri Military Academy 30-0 after being shut out the first three weeks of the season.

For Fayette, the win came at a crucial time. The Falcons entered Friday’s game 0-4. And second-year head coach Kole Hinton said every one of the four losses was winnable. This is especially important, he says, because so many of the Falcons’ regular-season opponents are also among the 10 teams in Class 1 District 2.

“We definitely have a chance to win out,” Hinton said about the remainder of the season and beyond. And depending on the district seedings, it’s possible Fayette could face Salisbury, Harrisburg, Westran, or Russellville in the postseason.

“Even if we’re a lower seed or mid-tier, we’re going to see a lot of these teams again.,” Hinton said. “We just want to position ourselves the best that we can.”

Friday’s game at Linn marked the Falcons’ first game ever competing in the new CS8. The conference was solidified last year, with competitions beginning this fall. Fayette left the now-defunct Lewis & Clark after five decades to help form the new conference.

The Falcons scored early and often on Friday, finding the end zone three times in the first quarter. The first touchdown came on a 37-yard run by junior running back Carter Vroman to go up 6-0. On their next possession, they marched the ball down the field, capping the drive with a two-yard run from senior Micah Estes, flexing Fayette’s one-two running back punch.

The third touchdown of the opening quarter came on Fayette’s tried and true hook-and-ladder play. This is the third game in a row the Falcons have scored on the trick play. This time, it went for 41 yards.

Much of Fayette’s limited scoring this season has been on trick plays. Hinton said it was relieving to finally score several touchdowns in conventional fashion.

“It’s kind of a blessing and a curse when you score from distance, and that’s why I like having the five- to 10-play drives where we move the ball 40, 50, 60 yards down the field and then score that way too,” Hinton said. “The long runs are like the cherry on top, rather than the expectation.”

A successful two-point conversion gave Fayette a 20-0 lead heading into the second quarter.

Fayette extended the lead in the second quarter, scoring three more touchdowns before halftime, all from Vroman. The first came on a four-yard run. Vroman then scored on an interception and touchdown return. The takeaway was forced by senior defensive back Kaleb Friebe, who delivered a big hit on the Linn receiver just as he made the catch. The ball popped into the air and into the hands of Vroman, who returned the turnover for a touchdown.

The turnover was the fourth in five games caused by Friebe, who had already forced three fumbles this season.

Another interception was made by sophomore defensive back Ky Cunningham. Fayette has now forced 10 turnovers so far this season, double last year’s season total.

Vroman later broke for another big run, this time for 40 yards, to score his fifth touchdown of the first half.

Junior fullback Jaron Cross punched his way through the Linn defense for a one-yard score late in the second quarter. Micah Estes capped off the first-half scoring with his second touchdown of the game to send Fayette into the locker room with a 54-6 lead.

Linn’s lone touchdown of the game came on a 79-yard run. But a failed two-point conversion held the Wildcats to six points.

The final touchdown of the game came in the fourth quarter when Fayette freshman Blake Braden broke loose for 44 yards to make the final score 60-6.

Fayette’s run game was the star of the show. Vroman broke 100 yards for the second game this season, exploding for 175 yards on 10 carries, including a 41-yarder, and four rushing touchdowns. Estes ran the ball 19 times for 81 yards and two touchdowns. Braden scored once on two carries for 42 yards. Cross picked up seven yards on as many carries with a one-yard score.

Also picking up yards for the run game was Friebe. He ran twice for 19 yards starting at quarterback for the Falcons.

The senior started the first half of last season at quarterback before giving way to then-freshman Ledgyr Conrow, who Hinton designated as the team’s starting play caller for his sophomore season. But some missed film time cost Conrow the start on Friday.

“We have some in-house standards,” Hinton explained. “Part of that is our film time that we need to get in. Unfortunately, it happened again this week. So, when you don’t hit those film requirements, part of that is losing time, because if you’re not watching film, you’re not prepared for the game. And they know that. The consequence is sitting out, depending on how much you missed.”

Missing film time is part of a letdown on focus that Hinton said has held his team back all season. He cites a lack of focus regarding penalties and setbacks, on and off the field.

“It’s just little things, which has been unfortunate for us. And we know that. And hopefully, we continue to get out of our own way,” he said.

While Fayette’s running game was successful on Friday, the passing game once again struggled. Conrow completed just four of 10 passes for 27 yards. Vroman, Colton Cross, Estes, and Jaron Cross each hauled in one pass.

“We just couldn’t do well for whatever reason, and that’s kind of the question mark,” Hinton said.

On the other side of the ball, Hinton had nothing but praise for his defense. 

“The defense played really well. They were phenomenal,” he said.

Junior Isaac Day forced Linn’s only fumble of the night. The defense also made three interceptions on the day. One each by Vroman, Cunningham, and freshman Blake Braden.

Day also finished with a team-high five tackles. Vroman added four, with three from junior Graden Kindle, and two each from Friebe and Brodi Tucker. Vroman, Friebe, and Tucker each recorded one tackle for loss.

Fayette must have all its pieces in order on both sides of the ball on Friday. The Falcons host Tipton (4-1), which is likely to emerge as the CS8 powerhouse. The Cardinals’ only loss of the season game at Class 2 Lamar in Week 3. They escaped with a 38-32 win at home against Harrisburg last week.

“All roads lead through Tipton,” Hinton said about both conference and district implications. “If we upset Tipton, we can still win conference. That’s the cool part about having all of your conference games at the end.”

Things don’t get any easier once Tipton is out of the way. On October 11, Fayette will head to Mokane to take on South Callaway, another team that could conceivably finish at the top of the CS8 standings. The Falcons return to familiar territory on October 18 when they host rival Harrisburg for senior night. Fayette caps off the regular season at Russellville on October 25.