Last year, the Fairfield Prep football team lost to Law for the first time in more than 30 years en route to an 0-10 season.

The Jesuits were determined to not let it happen again, and they didn't.

Joe McBride set an early tone by returning the opening kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown, as Fairfield Prep defeated the Lawmen, 37-22, Friday night in Milford behind an explosive offense that produced a number of big plays.

The Jesuits improved to 2-2 and gave new coach Tom Shea his first Southern Connecticut Conference victory.

"Last year, we took a hard loss (33-7) here on their turf and we really wanted to get back on track, especially this season after the tough one last season," said Jesuits quarterback C.J. Donohue, who finished 9-of-16 for 146 yards.  "But this game was marked on our schedule as one of the biggest wins that we'll have."

Fairfield Prep's offense was as efficient as it has been in recent years, and never moreso than late in the first half, when Donohue engineered an 86-yard TD drive in the final 76 seconds of the second quarter.

"That was incredible," said the senior signal-caller, who also scored on a 39-yard keeper when Shea decided to go for it on 4th-and-3 late in the third quarter. "Honestly, it was the 'O' line who pushed that drive."

For Shea, the revenge factor was less important than bouncing back from last week's 20-15 loss at Wilbur Cross, a game the Jesuits could have won.

"Forget last season," Shea said. "It was important because we played prety well last week and lost and we had to come out and play better and win. We didn't play better, but we did win. So, I'm happy with the victory, not happy with the
way we played."

While the Jesuits netted 360 yards in total offense, they did allow three long scoring drives, including a 16-play possession late in the second quarter. Shea also wasn't thrilled with Prep's play on the line.

"Law's a very big, strong, physical team and they gave us some problems," Shea said. "We're still not satisfied with our line play. It's not where it has to be, and that was a little disappointing. If you score 37 points, you should be  able to control the line of scrimmage and we didn't do that."

After Donohue's 7-yard TD pass to McBride gave the Jesuits a 16-7 lead with just under seven minutes left in the first half, the Lawmen (0-3) responded with a bruising 5 1/2-minute possession. They closed within 16-14 on Mark Elliott's 3-yard TD run with 1:16 left.

Most everyone in the stands figured the Jesuits would run out the clock and be happy with a two-point halftime lead.
 
"We were planning on it and then they called timeouts," Donohue said. "Then, we capitalized on their mistake and that's what you have to do in the game of football."

After Law used two timeouts, Donohue hit Vinny McAvey for a 15-yard completion to convert the first down. He then  surprised the Lawmen with a 51-yard bomb to McAvey that set up Brian Golger's 5-yard TD reception with three seconds left in the half.

The Jesuits converted three third-quarter interceptions into two more scores to break open the contest. Donohue's 39-yard run made it 30-14 before Dean Duffy ripped off a 52-yard TD run that pushed the Jesuits' lead to 37-14 with five seconds left in the third.

"During our second game of the season we won big (37-3 victory over Griswold), but that wasn't as meaningful as it was tonight," Donohue said. "Tonight  was a huge game and we really stepped up in a big situation. After last year, which was tough, we are definitely (back) on track and I look forward to keep winning."

Law sliced into the lead on Josh Patterson's 1-yard TD run with 8:47 left in the contest.

Kyle Vignone paced Prep's balanced ground attack (224 yards) with 57 yards on six carries.

Law quarterback Ryan Falaguerra, who threw on virtually even down during the Lawmen's final two possessions, finished 14-of-31 with three interceptions. He tossed  a 26-yard TD pass to Kenny Patrick in the second quarter to get his team on the board.