Former Warriors’ football star Jimmy Fairfield-Sonn recently completed his career at Amherst College in spectacular fashion. Jimmy, who graduated from Old Lyme in 2012, was named to the 2015 D3football.com All-America Third Team for his play at safety this past fall.
A three-year starter at Amherst, Jimmy had a magical final season by helping the Falcons win the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) title with an undefeated record of 8-0. His All-American honor validates years of hard work and puts Jimmy among the nation’s elite football players at the Division III level.
“It was awesome to be named an All-American and a surprise,” Jimmy says. “It’s just an amazing honor and proves my 13 years of hard work paid off, but I really have to thank all of my teammates and coaches. Without their help, I never would have won such an incredible award.”
Jimmy was asked to do a lot at a demanding strong safety position that includes numerous responsibilities. Jimmy could be stacking the box while battling massive offensive linemen in run support on one play and then he’d have to blanket a speedy wide receiver 40 yards down field in coverage on the next. Either way, the 5-foot-10, 180-pound senior excelled in his role by making 52 tackles, hauling in four interceptions, and returning two of those picks for touchdowns. He also added a sack and blocked two field goals in helping a dominant Amherst defense that led the NESCAC by allowing just under 10 points per game.
Jimmy’s exceptional performance raised eyebrows across both New England and the country, which earned him another prized distinction by making the NESCAC First Team and being named the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year. To go along with those awards and his All-American accolade, Jimmy was also selected by D3football.com as a 2015 All-East Region First Team performer and additionally named to the New England Writers Division II/III All-New England Team.
“To win the NESCAC title and to go out on top undefeated with my teammates, I couldn’t think of a better way to go out. After not making the All-Conference Team as a junior, I felt like people underestimated me, so to come back and be named an All-American and be the Defensive Player of the Year really means a lot,” says Jimmy, a Lyme native. “I chose Amherst to play football and because of the school’s high academic standards. Another reason I really loved the school was because Coach [E.J.] Mills at Amherst reminded me so much of [Valley-Old Lyme] Coach [Tim] King. They are both so knowledgeable and passionate, so it was the perfect school to come to. I couldn’t have picked a better situation.”
While Jimmy is finishing his degree in political science up in Massachusetts, he’s still looking to accomplish even more on the football field. The Canadian Football League is holding tryouts through the next two months and there are also opportunities for Jimmy to play professionally overseas. One thing you can count on is that Jimmy will do everything he can to succeed.
“As soon as [former Warriors’ defensive coordinator] Paul Ginter saw Jimmy play, he turned to me and said, ‘This kid’s gonna start right away.’ Three practices in, I knew Paul was right. Jimmy does everything 110 percent and 100 miles an hour. He could play any position on the field and be great,” says Valley-Old Lyme coach Tim King. “He could even be a guard if we needed him to. He’s a playmaker. He started at safety all four years and could cover some serious ground and never got beat. We used him at receiver, tight end, on kick returns, special teams, then he played quarterback for us junior and senior year. Jimmy is one of the most competitive players I’ve ever coached. During games, in practice, the weight room—he always pushed it and worked his tail off. The other thing was that he never complained ever about a play or his role and he was so much fun to coach. I could tease him about stuff and he’d give it right back. He was just a joy to coach.”
Another thing that makes Jimmy so special is what he had to overcome to play the game he loves. Just before entering the 7th grade at age 12, Jimmy was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, which is also known as juvenile diabetes. The disease is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin. To survive, a person with type 1 diabetes needs to take insulin injections to allow sugar to move through the blood stream and enter the cells of the body to produce energy.
“When I first found out I had type 1 diabetes, I was devastated. I didn’t know what it was and thought I would never play football again,” Jimmy says. “When I learned that you could control your blood sugar and that I could still play sports, it was so huge for me. I began to see it as just another challenge in life. There are worse diseases a person can have and, if you learn to manage it and control it, anyone can overcome diabetes. I take injections four to five times a day and test my blood sugar before every meal. I think by seeing it as a challenge, I was able to attack it. If you look at diabetes as a problem, then it just makes it more difficult.”
Jimmy took that challenge head on and came out on top. During his career at Valley, he became a captain on the football team and led the Warriors to their first State Playoff game and their initial postseason victory when they beat Sacred Heart 37-24 in 2011. As the starting quarterback for two years, he led the team to the playoffs twice while throwing for 2,105 yards with 30 touchdowns, plus he also ran for 3,131 yards and 52 scores. At strong safety, Jimmy compiled 160 tackles that included 27 for a loss to go with seven interceptions, two fumble recoveries, and four forced fumbles en route to being named a multiple All-Pequot Conference selection, making All-State, and also earning a spot on the Walter Camp All-Connecticut Team for his senior year.
Jimmy’s also had a knack for making some of his best plays in the biggest moments throughout his high school and collegiate careers. In the recent fall season, Amherst faced rival Trinity with both teams undefeated at 6-0 entering a game in that essentially decided the NESCAC championship. With Amherst leading 9-7 just before halftime, Trinity lined up for a 22-yard field goal to take the lead. When the ball was snapped, Jimmy broke through a crease in the line to block the kick and preserve Amherst’s slim advantage. Later in the game, he intercepted a pass to set up a Falcons’ score and then picked off another at their own 1 to clinch the 16-7 victory.
“Jimmy was really an amazing player for us. He has an incredible motor—an NFL motor—and intensity. In my 23 years as coach, he is one of the best players I’ve had. His football IQ is off the charts and his willingness to prepare is unmatched,” says Amherst’s Head Coach, E.J Mills. “The intangibles also set him apart. The way he breaks on the ball, his range is outstanding, and the only reason he didn’t play at a much-higher level is because he’s undersized. He has everything you are looking for in a player and a person. The All-American award is well deserved as he had a tremendous year and career, but maybe what I am most proud of is the way he practiced and his leadership. He was so consistent and the energy he brings every day is exactly what a team needs. Jimmy really embraced his role as a leader on the team. His leadership might be what I’m most proud of, even with all the accolades and how great a player he is.”
As his college life winds down, Jimmy reflects upon his time at both Amherst and Valley and has many people to thank for the success he’s achieved in all arenas.
“It was a great time and did a lot for my leadership capabilities. Working with my teammates, being put in a leadership position, becoming more vocal, it all helped me excel on the field and off. Football teaches you so much about life—how to work hard, deal with adversity, the values it teaches you. I definitely see myself coaching someday in the future to give back to the game that taught me so much,” Jimmy says. “Coach King, Coach Mills, and Coach Ginter were big role models for me in football and life. I have to thank all my teammates over the years and, of course, my parents for all of their support and driving me all over the East Coast to combines to get recognized for playing football. I can’t thank them enough.”
