When a football team can evenly run and pass well it can be a very long night for a defense.

That was the case for the James Buchanan Rockets’ defense Friday night.

The Fairfield Green Knights displayed a very good run and pass game which led to a convincing 55-15 win over the Rockets in a non-league game. The loss extends JB losing streak to 25 games.

Led by quarterback Darian Mort and running back Charlie Burnett the Green Knights churned out just over 450 total yards, 20 first downs and 42 first-half points. Mort, who connected on his first 6 passes, finished 8 of 10 for 195 yards and 3 TD passes. Burnett carried the ball 22 times for 187 yards and 3 TDs.

“They are a well coached team,” said JB coach Andy Stoner, who saw his team drop to 0-3. “But we also made them look good. Our first priority was to stop the run which we didn’t do and then you can’t let the quarterback stand back there for six, seven, eight seconds and pick receivers to throw to.”

A key play early in the game may have shifted all the momentum to the Green Knights.

Fairfield took a 7-0 first quarter lead on Burnett’s 66-yard TD scamper. After the ensuing kickoff the Rockets drove to the Green Knight’s 20 behind 19-yard and 36-yard runs by Cormac Houpt and Owen Stoner. After a false start JB faced a first-and-15 at Fairfield’s 20 and quarterback Sawyer Egolf lofted a pass inside the 10 where Green Knight cornerback Zach Koons made the interception, thwarting the Rockets’ drive.

“That was a big play for us early,” Fairfield coach Darwin Seiler said. “We played well defensively and very efficiently offensively. JB played a good game, but it’s tough right now for them with the low numbers. They have to keep their heads up and keep playing hard. They’ll get that first one here soon.”

The Rockets broke up the shutout with 7:02 left in the third quarter when Egolf, who led JB with 105 yards rushing, kept the ball himself and raced down the left sideline for a 34-yard TD. Houpt, who finished with 77 yards, added a 21-yard TD run in the fourth quarter.

“I’m not sure, but we came out very flat and not ready to play,” Stoner said.

Fairfield 55, James Buchanan 15

James Buchanan 0 0 7 8 – 15

Fairfield 28 14 6 7 – 55

FIRST QUARTER

FF – Charlie Burnett 66 run (Darian Mort kick), 9:06

FF – Mort 33 pass to Nick Mezger (Mort kick), 6:05

FF – Burnett 3 run (Mort kick), 1:10

FF – Mort 41 pass to Garrett Stadler (Mort kick), :53

SECOND QUARTER

FF – Burnett 12 run (Mort kick), 3:31

FF – Mort 15 pass to Nick Wheeler (Mort kick), :03

THIRD QUARTER

JB – Sawyer Egolf 34 run (Egolf kick), 7:02

FF – Stadler 14 run (pass failed), 1:28

FOURTH QUARTER

JB – Houpt 21 run (Clay Sanders pass to Chandler White), 7:58

FF – Aiden Cliber 6 run (Mort kick), 2:40

TEAM STATISTICS

First downs – JB 12; FF 20

Rushes-yds – JB 35-253; FF 34-259

Passing – JB 4-9-61-2; FF 8-10-195-1

Total Offense – JB 314; FF 454

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING:  JB – Egolf 9-105, Houpt 21-77, Owen Stoner 5-54, Jae-Lin Carmack 5-17, White 1-2, Hayden Russell 1-0, Caden Stoner 1-(-2); FF – Burnett 22-187, Cole Bowen 2-34, Tyler Farace 2-21, Zeke Brougher 2-5, Cliber 1-6, Mort 2-(-20).

PASSING: JB – Egolf 4-8-61-2, Russell 0-1-0-0; FF – Mort 8-10-195-1.

RECEIVING: JB – Sanders 3-54, Houpt 1-7; FF – Mezger 3-81, Stadler 2-63, Wheeler 2-22, Burnett 1-24.

INTERCEPTIONS: JB – Owen Stoner; FF – Zach Koons, Mort.