By Mike Corpos
Daily Republic

The Fairfield High football team put forth a valiant effort against a relentless Vacaville squad, but the Falcons came away from Tom Zunino Stadium on the short end of a 70-48 Monticello Empire League decision Friday night.

But that wasn't the worst news of the night, however, as Falcons standout quarterback Tra'Mayne Bondurant suffered a serious ankle injury late in the fourth quarter after the game was well out of reach.

Bondurant had just leapt to grab a Vacaville pass deflected by teammate Matt Martineau for an interception, but he came down amid a host of Bulldogs, and when the pile cleared, the Falcon's leader was on the ground screaming.

It was an unfortunate end to a night that saw the Falcons (3-4, 1-1 MEL) battle the Bulldogs (6-1, 2-0 MEL) every step of the way, and at least threaten to score on nearly every drive.

Still, the 70 points are the most Fairfield has ever given up, and the fourth-most that Vacaville has ever scored.

Before he was hurt, Bondurant had another impressive night, throwing for 216 yards on 17-of-36 passing, and he rushed for another 144 yards.

Vacaville also converted on all but two possesions, punting just once in the second half, and ending the game with two kneel-downs.

Early on it was very bit the shootout that both sides expected, with four touchdowns inside the first four minutes of play.

After receiving the opening kickoff, Vacaville took just four plays to find pay dirt on a 35-yard run by Quincy Forte and a 2-point conversion run by Malique Earl.

after Fairfield's Mykell Davis took the ensuing kickoff 68 yards, Bondurant took just three plays, ending on a 3-yard keeper to score, but his 2-point pass attempt went incomplete, leaving Fairfield trailing 8-6.

Vacaville scored two more TDs in the next 2 minutes, on a 27-yard dash by Forte and a 56-yard interception return by Justin Garner for a 22-6 Bulldogs lead, which they never gave up.

Fairfield responded by marching 62 yards on eight plays, capping the drive with a 10-yard TD pass from Bondurant to Angelo Perry to get within 22-13.

Perry finished with 70 yards on six catches, and Kyle Wagner added 76 yards on six receptions.

Vacaville converted again before the quarter ended, this time on a 10-yard pass from Coleman Christensen to Sean Carrington, making it 29-13 aftger just 12 minutes of play.

Jordan Harris and Perry each scored for Fairfield, which alternated TDs with Vacaville in the second quarter, tallying on back-to-back possessions between Fairfield's scores, and again reaching the end zone with 53 seconds left in the half, making it 50-27 at the break.

The Falcons threatened on the opening possession of the secdond half, but Bondurants pass from the Vacaville 29 was intercepted, and the Bulldogs again scored to go up by 30 at 57-27.

Not willing to go quietly, Fairfield responded again when Bondurant hit Davis in the end zone with a 21-yard lob to make it 57-34.

Two plays later Vacaville's Melvin Mason scored on a 6-yard run.

On the next drive, Fairfield went 80 yards on 14 plays and Bondurant finished it with a 14-yard sprint.

Each team tallied just one TD in the fourth, Vacaville's coming on a 53-yard run by Mason, and Fairfield's on a 62-yard scramble by Bondurant.

But that was where the fun ended for the Falcons, who lost their star with 5:03 to go in the game.