The Fairfield Mules start the 2011 season in the Black Diamond Conference in the eleventh season under Coach Justin Townsend. Townsend has an overall record of 47-50 (.485) with six playoff qualifying berths and four consecutive trips to the IHSA Playoffs (Class 3A). Townsend's staff includes Bobby Wells (12 years), Jeremy Ellis (11 years) and Donnie Lyons (1 year). The coaching crew expects 35 varsity players for the Mules with 8 seniors. Experience returns with five returning starters on offense and six returning starting on the defensive side. The Mules feature multiple offensive and defensive formations.
Fairfield will feature junior Running Back / Linebacker, Dyllan Bailey. Bailey (6'0 165) was a BDC all-conference Honorable Mention as a sophomore. No other returning Mules earned all-conference in 2010. The backfield will also feature senior Quarterback Colton Slover (5'10 170), junior running back Andrew Garrison (5'6 175), and senior back Rolando Gomez. Senior Nolan Taylor (6'0 185) and senior Dustin Downen (5'9 145) will anchor the both sides of the line.
The ten team Black Diamond Conference will continue to be a challenge this year with Johnston City returning key players and Chester and Eldorado looking to be at the top of the heap. Last season the conference sent six teams to the playoffs with Fairfield losing in the first round to Mt. Carmel 12-56. Winning five games will most likely result in another playoff berth with 40 playoff points. The team will look towards its returning starters to get them there. It is likely we see the BDC send six, or at least five teams back to the playoffs this year. 618 Football will be tracking the team with live Friday night scores as the season progresses.
