FAIRFIELD EAGLES VARSITY quarterback Willie McElroy outruns Rusk Eagles defenders for a touchdown that tied the contest just before half-time. The Eagles host the Crandall Pirates for homecoming Friday night. A pair of teams looking to get on a winning track before the start of district competition, the Fairfield Eagles and Crandall Pirates, face off Friday night at Eagle Field.

Game time is 7:30 p.m., but is preceded by Fairfield high school homecoming activities at 7:05 p.m.

The Eagles are winless thus far this year, missing three possible victories by narrow margins.

"We are going to have to play good defense, take advantage of our opportunities and put points on the board," Fairfield head coach Darrell Piske says.

The Eagles fell to Rusk last week 10-14, giving up a 67-yard touchdown run and a fluke fumble return in spite of controlling the football most of the game.

Turnovers and big plays cost the Eagles a week earlier in a matchup against Gatesville, and the FHS squad were beaten by a kickoff return by Ferris in the final minutes of that game.

PLAYING ON THE WORTHAM LADY BULLDOGS varsity volleyball team this season are: front l-r, Brandi Williams, Ki'Undrea Smith, Whitney Chrisley, Anna Jones and Jasmine Bailey; back l-r, head coach Kim Fisher, manager Samantha Sherber, Amber Libhart, Jodi Thornton, Lyndsey Ranson, Lauren Libhart and assistant coach Juliann Jarrell. "The kids understand we are a good football team that should have won some games we didn't," Piske says.

Crandall won its homecoming game last week 14-7 to Fort Worth Castleberry, getting the go-ahead score on a 90-yard kickoff return by wide receiver Reid Baker.

The Pirates are picked fifth out of six teams in District 12-AAA and fell to the Eagles last year.

Piske reports that Crandall operates out of a spread offense and likes to throw the ball.

The team posted a 5-5 mark a year ago and returned eighth starters on each side of the football.

Calling signals is Tucker Mallon who passed for 1,298 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2008. A favorite target is wide receiver Baker, 27 catches for 361 yards and two touchdowns.

VARSITY CHEERLEADERS AT Wortham high school this year are: front l-r, Dee Dee Johnson, mascot Miki Short, Kaitlin Eagles and Brittany Graham; back l-r, Leah Butler, Jessie Thornton, manager Dayesha Eggins, Jodi Thornton, Jaclyn Bklack and De'Adrian Beachum. Leading the 50 defense is 2-time All-District back Desmond McCullar, 5-11, 175 pounds, who picked off three passes a year ago, and linebackers Randall Henderson, 6-1 and 185, and Carson Jones, 6-0 and 205.

"They get after it. It's like the last three weeks, we have to play well," Piske says.

Fairfield will be without the services of defensive back Andrew Myers, who was injured making a tackle last week against Rusk, and wide receiver Tevin Green, who was ejected and is sidelined under Fairfield athletic rules.

WORTHAM LADY BULLDOGS JUNIOR VARSITY spikers this season are: front lr, Miranda Price and Destiny Eggins; middle l-r, Kara Lodes, Kaitlin Eagle, Dana Craig, Kennedy Vogel, Kenzie Sessions, Jaclyn Black and Jessi Thornton; back l-r, Lauren Beldin, Tasha Irwinsky, Caitlin Lewis, Amanda Helms, Leah Butler and Davesha Eggins.