MarshfieldWebTV.com

            The Marshfield Blue Jays rallied from a 21-0 deficit, pulling within a possession of the lead at Lebanon Friday night before falling 28-15 in the 2007 high school football opener.

            Senior running back Jordan Theobald scored on a 12-yard run, cutting the Lebanon lead to 21-15 with 4:18 minutes to play in the game.

            Then a Marshfield defense which had stymied Lebanon throughout the second half, forced the Yellowjackets into a third-down-and 10 yards to go situation with two straight tackles for no gain. Then, Lebanon quarterback Ryan Howerton went back to pass and the Blue Jay pass defenders covered all receivers while the Marshfield pass rush seemed poised for a sack. But Howerton somehow evaded the rush, and gained a key first down with less than 3 minutes to go.

            The Yellowjackets scored on a 39-yard run by Wes North on the next play to put the game away.

            Marshfield will face Parkview in the Blue Jays home opener next Friday night. The Vikings lost at West Plains in their season opener. Lebanon will go to West Plains in week two of the season.

            The Yellowjackets opened the season with a bang, returning Marshfield’s opening kickoff 92 yards. Junior Brett Smith picked up the kickoff on the sideline and made a pair of cuts while racing to paydirt on the first play of the season. Howerton kicked the extra point to put Lebanon up 7-0.

            The Lebanon defense, anchored by linemen Garrett Wade (6-foot, 5-inch, 257 pound senior), Deonat Wade (6-1, 305 senior), Justin Britt (6-5, 264 junior) and linebacker Chris Britt (6-3, 252), did not allow a Marshfield first down until the final minute of the first half.

            The Yellowjackets used big plays to extend their early lead. Chris Britt, one of the biggest running backs around at any level, rumbled 37 yards to set up a 36-yard TD run by senior Wes North late in the first half. Howerton’s extra point put Lebanon up 14-0.

            The Yellowjackets seemed to take control of the game late in the first half, converting on a fourth-and-two and a third-and-10 during an 11-play drive which was capped by a 2-yard run by Chris Britt. The big plays of the drive were first down passes from Howerton to senior wide receiver Kody Parker, who is 6-3, 245. Howerton’s third PAT gave the host squad a 21-0.

            Marshfield began chipping away in the final moments of the first half, getting a 38 yard pass from quarterback Cameron Keenan to junior Zach Reed, who turned in a great run after the catch, giving kicker James Reese the chance to boom a 38-yard field goal with 48.5 seconds left on the first half clock.

            Marshfield’s defense was outstanding after the intermission, getting big plays from linebacker Chris Bigley, back James Washburn, linemen Kiley Weaver, John Burkett and Brennan Deckard, linebacker Logan Wendt and safety Corbin Evans while refusing to let Lebanon add to the lead.

            Bigley not only punted beautifully to give the Jays good field position throughout the game, but he also broke through to block a Lebanon punt on the final play of the third period. Bigley kept his feet after the block, and scooped up the loose ball, racing to the end zone from 30-yards out, cutting the Lebanon lead to 21-9.

            The Marshfield defense was able to stop a Lebanon drive at the Blue Jays 38 in the final period. The Blue Jays offense responded with Reed getting a 12-yard run to set up a first down run by Theobald, and then Keenan hit Reed with a 33-yard pass on a third-and-16 play, giving Marshfield a first down at the Lebanon 12.

            Theobald then raced into the end zone to cut the lead to 21-15.