KINGSTON — Kingston Junior High may have lost its first football game Thursday afternoon, but the team still has high hopes.

“Our goal was to go undefeated,” head coach Tony Chisholm said after the 26-12 loss to the Fairview Falcons. “Now our goal is to go 6-1.”

Several big plays by the Falcons did in Kingston.

The first came in the first quarter, when Fairview quarterback Brian McEuin hit receiver Josh Dow with a 27-yard strike that gave the Falcons their first touchdown on the day.

McEuin hurt the Cavaliers again through the air when he gunned a pass 28 yards for another touchdown, this one to running back Tyrone Taylor.

Both kicks were good for Fairview, so their lead stood at 14-0.

It didn’t stand that way for long, as Kingston managed to drive its way down the field.

A roughing-the-passer call put Kingston on the 11 yard line, and quarterback Jordan Prince took advantage.

Prince dropped back, then flicked a high pass towards the corner of the end zone.

Receiver Jordan Henry was waiting. So was Fairview cornerback Shea Baumgartner.

Baumgartner positioned himself in front of Henry, seemingly in great position to tip or intercept the ball.

But as the pass streaked downward, a pair of hands — Henry’s — rose up and snatched the ball away.

Prince’s throw and Henry’s grab had resulted in a touchdown pass.

The kick was blocked, so Fairveiw carried a 14-6 lead into halftime.

Kingston started the second half with more energy and drive; Prince completed a long pass to Blake Buel; gained a few yards on a keeper; and hit Henry for another long pass.

But neither Kingston nor Fairvew could reach the end zone in the third quarter.

In the fourth, both teams struck again. Fairview’s Taylor broke free up the left sideline for a 74-yard touchdown scamper.

The kick was blocked, but Fairview’s lead was now 20-6.

Prince completed a pair of long passes, then kept the ball himself to score a three-yard touchdown run.

The kick was again block, but the Cavs had narrowed the gap; Fairview now led 20-12.

But Fairview milked the clock, ate up yards, and scored another touchdown when Wesley McRay bullied his way into the end zone from a yard out.

They led 26-12, and that’s how the game ended.

Chisholm said the Cavs blew a few defensive assignments, which resulted in Fairview’s big plays; but he was proud of his team for keeping itself in the game, especially against so tough an opponent.

“I’m proud to coach these guys,” he said. “They fought through adversity. They never gave up.”

The team was anchored by the play of Prince, who often had to roll out and run the ball himself as well as throw the deep ball. Henry was his best target, Chisholm said, often planting himself in the D’s soft spot.

On defense, Chisholm said, linebacker Todd Sand and tackle Joe Eberharter helped push Fairview away from the end zone.

“We kept playing,” Chisholm said. “We never gave up. And we’ll bounce back.”

The Cavs next take on Central Kitsap at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 18. The game will be played at CK.