Del City cousins LaDainian, Rodney Fields teaming up for Eagles' unbeaten run this season
COWETA, OKLAHOMA - Cousins LaDainian and Rodney Fields transferred to Del City from Oklahoma City Southeast in the offseason, and it is paying off for the Eagles in their unbeaten run through the 2023 season, which wraps up this week.
The senior-kin duo has made a tremendous impact in boosting Del City (9-0, 6-0 in District 5A-3), ranked 17th in this week's SBLive Oklahoma rankings, to one-sided victories in seven of its nine games.
That includes a 43-14 rout of No. 25 Coweta (6-3, 5-1) Friday night on the road. The win clinches the District 5A-3 crown for the Eagles, who lost it last year after losing 18-17 to the Tigers at home.
“It feels great! That is one championship,” LaDainian Fields said. “We got Durant (at home in Thursday's regular season finale), then we got the playoffs. We got to keep the (top) seed up.”
Oklahoma high school football computer rankings (10/31/2023)
Both cousins impacted the game and have committed to play for Division I programs.
LaDainian “DaeDae” Fields, who plays wide receiver, caught catches for 146 yards and two touchdowns in the win against Coweta. He has committed to play at TCU.
Del City's LaDainian Fields
Rodney Fields, at running back, rushed for 105 yards on 12 carries while scoring two TDs. He has committed to play at Oklahoma State.
The Eagles also picked off two passes in the game.
DESTINATIONS KNOWN
Both cousins made their decision on where to play college football earlier this year.
Their reasoning for each was how things clicked once they set foot on campus.
“It just felt like home,” Rodney Fields said of his visit at OSU.
“As soon as I went on my unofficial visit, they felt like family,” LaDainian Fields said in regards to TCU. “I’m a big family guy, and they treated me like family. They told me I would play (immediately). It felt good.”
“DaeDae,” a nickname he was given as a baby, also said he loves the Horned Frog fan base. “It’s a very good atmosphere,” he said.
He also said he loves the food there. His favorite is the barbeque.
LaDainian said he has watched his share of TCU games this year while Rodney has enjoyed seeing the emergence of Cowboys’ running back Ollie Gordon, who is now being compared to the legendary Barry Sanders.
Del City receiver LaDainian Fields reacts after scoring a touchdown during the Eagles' win at Coweta on Oct. 27, 2023. Photo by Daniel Shular, Tulsa World
FLASHBACK TO COWETA
Del City received the opening kickoff, then Rodney Fields scored on the first play from scrimmage, a 52-yard scamper to the end zone. It was the first of four TDs that lifted the visitor to a 28-0 lead by the end of the first quarter.
“We just went to work and took care of business, man,” Rodney Fields said.
It was soon 14-0 when quarterback River Warren hit Tayvonn Johnson for another TD.
LaDainian Fields scored his first TD of the night when he caught a pass from Warren and took it to the end zone for a 59-yard TD reception, making it 21-0; then Rodney got his second score on a 7-yard run and that set the tone for the game.
“We just came out with control,” LaDainian Fields said. “And we were just having fun. We knew what was on the line. We knew this was a (district) championship game."
In the second quarter, Rodney Fields ran in a two-point conversion after a 1-yard TD by Braelon Adamah, making it 36-0 with 5:31 left in the second quarter.
Del City's Rodney Fields
Coweta got on the board on a 1-yard TD from Lolo Bell. It was 36-7 at the break.
LaDainian Fields scored his second TD on a 13-yard reception in the third quarter and it was 43-7.
A 19-yard fumble return by defensive end Deacon Peterson accounted for Coweta’s second TD in the fourth period.
Photo of Del City's Rodney Fields by Daniel Shular, Tulsa World
-- Mike Moguin | @SBLiveOK
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