One Battle We Wont Forget Bolivar 37 Marshfield 35
Last Friday Night an old nemesis rambled into town like a ghost from the past. For those of us who remember the 70’s and 80’s Central Ozark Conference Battles with Bolivar the Liberators were a familiar foe. The last time Bolivar was in town Marshfield beat them to end their season in 2018 in the playoffs. Before that the Liberators had dominated the series winning 10 of the previous 11 games.
Former Blue Jay Quarterback Robert Clardy is now the Head Coach of the Liberators after stepping down as head coach of SBU to to lead Bolivar.
Bolivar jumped out early taking a commanding 14-0 lead in the first quarter leaving the capacity Marshfield crowd quiet and fearing a runaway. Bolivar took the opening drive right down the field and scored on a 35 yard TD pass from Chapel Banner to Paul Bliss. After stopping the Jays Bolivars’ second possession was a 2 play 80 yard drive ending with a 74 yard bomb from Chapel Banner to Kolt Hill.
On the ensuing kickoff Marshfield’s Case Steinbach made a statement. Fielding the ball at the 15 he cut to the left and followed his blocking to midfield where he stiff-armed the kicker to the turf on his way to an 85 yard TD return electrifying the Marshfield faithful in the stands.
Bolivar took the next possession to the Jays 15 when the drive stalled, and they attempted a field Goal. That attempt was blocked by Hayden Swanigan, caught by Caleb Bull and returned back to the Jays 40. The first quarter ended 14-6 Bolivar.
In the 2nd quarter Hayden Swanigan intercepted a pass at midfield and Marshfield scored on a 27 yard td pass from Carson Adams to Carter James. Adams found Braden Jenson in the back of the endzone all alone to tie it up at 14.
Just before the half Bolivar RB Brayden Davis was stopped by Josh Lambeth after busting loose setting up Bolivar 1st and goal just inches shy of the goal line.
On 1st down Caleb Bull got in the backfield and hit the running back causing a loss back to the 1.
2nd down Aydian Cobb made initial contact, Ashton Herrera, Braden Jensen, and Christian Jackson dropped the RB for another loss this time at the 3.
3rd down Bolivar going backwards with the running game faked the handoff and tried to get the td pass on a slant, but that ball was deflected by Trenton Rosenthal who was blitzing from the end and it was intercepted in the endzone by Cody Bull ending the threat!
Note: At halftime I was talking with press box legends Curt Weaver and Pat Theobald and they said in 20+ years they have never seen a better defensive stand.
In the 3rd quarter Bolivar was set up 1st and goal from the 2 when Aydian Cobb made a huge tackle for loss back to the 5
Number Hayden Swanigan made a TD saving tackle from behind on 2nd down setting up 3rd and goal from the 4
Qb run was stuffed by Gage Harles, Trenton Rosenthal and Aydian Cobb
Another defensive stand after 1st and goal forced Bolivar to settle for a FG 17-14
Immediately the Jays scored on an 80 yard bomb from Adams to Steinbach to take the lead 20-17
Bolivar answered with an 18 yard pass to freshman RB Kolt Hill out of the backfield to regain lead 24-20
In 4th a 9 yard td run by Hill made it 30-20 Bolivar
Once again Marshfield answered with a 10 yard counter play to Anthony Macrelli extra point good 30-27.
Bolivar fumbled in the red zone and Leighton Callaway jumped on the ball giving the Jays the ball at the 18
Once again Adams hit Steinbach with a 57 yard reception that ended with a horse collar tackle spotting the ball at the 13
From there Macrelli powered his way to inside the 1. Adams finished it with a 1 yard td run. 33-30 Jays. The extras point snap was low , the holder Steinbach carried it into the endzone for a 2 point conversion 35-30 Marshfield 4:19 to go in game
On a 4th down and 1 from the Jays 18 Cyrus Jackson scored. Extra point good. Game ends Bolivar 37 Marshfield 35
Carson Adams 16/29 300yds 2 TD, 1 Rush TD
Case Steinbach 8 rec 215 yds 1 TD, 1 KO return TD 85yds (165 total return yds) 380 total yds
Steinbach is now #2 all time for receiving yds in a game behind Logan Findley from 2012.
Leighton Callaway 5 rec 40yds
Carter James 1 rec 27yds 1 TD
Braden Jensen 1 rec 19 yds, 2pt conversion
Anthony Macrelli 11 carries 38 yds 1 TD
Defense:
Cobb 16 TT , 3 TFL
Lambeth 14 TT
Rosenthal 8 TT, 1 TFL (deflected pass on int)
Swanigan 7 TT, 1 PBU, 1 int 1 blocked field goal
Bull 20 TT 1 TFL, 1 int, blocked fg recovery
Great game Next up Marshfield now 3-2 on the season travels to Branson.
