Season Preview: Fairfield Union looking to repeat success from 2023
By: Charlie Ihlenfeld
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LANCASTER, Ohio (WOUB) — Last year, the MSL-Buckeye was put on notice. The Fairfield Union Falcons emerged as a force to be reckoned with. Their physical play sparked a four-game winning streak to end the year, and head coach Andy Clark established a culture of toughness for the Falcons.
“That’s the standard you have to set. The older kids have to buy into it. They have to start buying into it, and you have to hold everyone to that same standard. And once you have more kids doing it then who aren’t, the ones not doing it, they don’t want to be those guys,” Clark said.
It was the first winning season for Fairfield Union since 2017. The most impressive aspect of the Falcons’ success was the fact that this was coach Clark’s first season at the helm. While Clark had been a part of Fairfield Union athletics for several years as the athletic director, he managed to reignite football for the Falcons. Clark attributes the new heights to the players and coaches.
“It starts with the kids. Kids buy in or not, kids are hungry to take another step forward. They had goals they wanted to get in the playoffs, wanted to have a winning season. That’s something we haven’t had here in a while,” Clark said.
Keegan Arnett, the anchor of the Fairfield Union offensive line, remarked the team improved throughout the year because of their increased understanding of the playbook. More importantly, they had teammates they needed to play for.
“Last year was the first year with the playbook, so we were working out some kinks. We were starting to understand how our offense was supposed to be run,” Arnett said. “Our defense, we had some injuries at the start of the year and we came together as a team. Like the guys who were hurt, we wanted to win for them. And we just kept on playing, giving it our best.”
The Falcons are ready to take the next step due to that. In the second year under coach Clark, Fairfield Union is in a position to run the table in the MSL-Buckeye. With the teams above the Falcons last year shedding talent, an improved Fairfield Union offense has a chance to be dangerous. They will have to tackle one key issue to tackle: a new offensive line; however, with Arnett, they have an anchor to rely on.
“I think our young guys have a lot of potential. I mean, I’m the only senior lineman this year. There are a few that are new to football that are seniors, but other than me, I’ve been here the longest. I’ve been trying to help these younger guys get some experience because I think they have a lot of potential to help us succeed this year,” Arnett said.
Right out of the gate, the Falcons will have a test. The New Lexington Panthers. It is a revenge match that many on Fairfield Union are looking forward to.
“I really want to beat New Lex. That’d be good, great to have my senior year,” Arnett said.
“New Lex, week one, that’s the one we want,” senior running back Owen Ruff said.
Coach Clark laid out the game plan for how they will take on their schedule this season.
“Fast, physical and together. That’s what we talk about before every game. You can play fast, you can play physical, you can play tough. Doesn’t take talent to do any of those three things,” Clark said.
Fairfield Union will have a chance to prove that motto to the rest of Ohio starting on August 24.