Article and photos by T Ray Henry
On a pleasant Friday evening on September 18th, the 1-3 Marshall High School football team traveled to Crosby Field in Robinson to take on the 2-2 Maroons in a Little Illini Conference game played on a wet surface as a result of an afternoon downpour during the hours leading up to kickoff.
Marshall came into this meeting against Robinson having not beaten the Maroons since the current senior group of Lions was in the 5th grade back in 2019. In fact, in all of their losses to Robinson since 2019, Marshall had given up an average of 32 points per outing.
In their last three games after a season-opening win over Wesclin, the story for the Lions has been like Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, where the best of times (first half play) transitioned into the worst of times (second half play). Marshall played each of their last three games against Sparta, Paris, and Olney close until the halftime break (or in the case of the Olney game, through Marshall’s first drive of the second half). In each of those games, the Lions found themselves within striking distance (or in the case of the Paris game, the Lions led at the half). Wear and tear on the Lions’ defense that plays the majority of the players both ways, became problematic as the opposition wore the Lions down in the end.
Against Robinson, these Lions were determined to end the three-game losing streak and get their season back on track. Once again, Marshall played a strong first half and led 14-7 at the break. Coming out of the half, Robinson thought the Lions would eventually falter as they did before, but the Big Red defense stood up to the challenge, causing five turnovers (three fumbles, two interceptions) while shutting out the Maroons in the final two quarters to win the game 20-7. After the win, handshakes, and fight songs, Lions players and coaches sprinted onto the field and slid across the wet grass like they were all kids again in their back yards with a Slip N Slide. Marshall’s win moves their record to 2-3 on the season, while the loss also moves Robinson to 2-3. Both teams are tied for 4th in conference play along with Newton and Casey-Westfield.
The first quarter of play ended scoreless though Marshall had an 80-yard touchdown run by Silas Dean called back on a penalty call. The Lions’ defense held strong through two Robinson drives which began in Marshall territory. Robinson’s second drive of the game was stopped short of the line to gain on fourth down at the Marshall 24.
On second down of Marshall’s ensuing drive, Silas Dean ran a jet sweep around the left end and raced all the way to the 41-yard line of Robinson. After the teams changed directions with the change of quarters, the Lions kept running the ball at the Maroons, first with a run on first down by David Sherrell, then a run by Wyatt Geltz to get the ball down to the 30 for another Lions first down. With the Marshall offensive line opening up holes, the Big Red kept churning out yards on the ground with runs by Sherrell and Geltz before quarterback Luke Brodie called his own number and ran the ball down to the 10-yard line for a Marshall first-and-goal. On a third-and-goal from the Robinson 2-yard line, Brodie followed the O-Line and his running backs into the end zone for a Marshall touchdown. The two-point conversion was no good, and with 7 ½ minutes to go before the half, Marshall led 6-0.
What appeared to be the only hiccup of the night for the Lions came on the ensuing kickoff as the kick coverage team lost containment as Robinson returned the kick to the Marshall 29. Three plays later, the home team scored and kicked the extra point. With 6:35 to go in the second quarter, Robinson now led 7-6.
On Marshall’s next possession after a third holding penalty was called by the man in the white hat, the Lions began their drive at their own 12. The Lions gained 9 yards in three plays and were faced with a fourth down and one from their own 21. Lining up in punt formation, the Lions went for it and were called short of the line to gain as Robinson took over possession of the ball at the Lions’ 21 with 4 ½ minutes to go in the half.
With the Maroons looking to extend their lead with a score to close out the first half, combined with receiving the kickoff to start the second half, the Robinson side of the gridiron was confident. The Marshall defense, however, played some of their best football of the season and fought hard to keep Robinson out of the end zone. On a third-and-14 from the Lions’ 25, Marshall’s Rocco Giannavola and Lachlan Smith snuffed out a screen pass for just a two-yard gain. The Maroons went for it on fourth down. A pass to the left side did not make the line to gain, so Marshall’s offense took over possession on downs at their own 16 with 2:38 to go in the half.
After the penalty flag flew by the white hat for Marshall’s fourth call by the same official for holding, the Lions had the ball at their own 8-yard-line with a first-and-18. Luke Brodie got the Lions out of the shadow of their own end zone with a 7-yard pass to Bryce Parker. Max Welsh then rushed the ball out to the Lions’ 33 and a first down. On the next play from scrimmage, Brodie launched a deep pass to Bryce Parker, but a Robinson defensive back interfered with Parker making the catch, giving Marshall a first down near midfield with 1:47 to go on the clock.
On first down, Max Welsh ran off tackle and got 7 yards. After an illegal substitution call on Robinson moved the ball to the Maroon’s 40, Marshall’s Luke Brodie stepped back and threw a screen pass to Max Welsh on the right side. Following his blockers up front in Fisher Bishop and Josef Stafford, Welsh picked up downfield blocks from Bryce Parker and Eli Thompson all the way down the right sideline for a 40-yard touchdown reception. With the sloppy conditions, Marshall decided to go for two, and Luke Brodie faked a handoff to an up back and followed him into the end zone for the two points. With 58 seconds to go before the break, Marshall now led 14-7.
A couple pass plays for Robinson brought the ball to the Marshall 32 before two pass plays were blown up by the Lions, and with the clock expiring, Marshall went to the locker room leading by 7 with the score 14-7.
On Robinson’s first possession of the second half, Marshall’s defense held the Maroons and had them stopped at midfield where the home team punted the ball down to the Marshall 15. The Lions gained a first down to their own 29 before a fumble in the wet conditions turned the ball over to Robinson. Two plays later, the Lions return the favor and cause a fumble that was recovered by Eli Thompson.
Marshall’s next drive stalled, so the Lions punted the ball back to Robinson, which began their drive at their own 30-yard line. The Maroons began moving the ball into Marshall territory before a Robinson pass down the left side was intercepted by Silas Dean, who jumped the route on a great play, inside the red zone. Dean then ran the ball back to the Lions 40 where they started with a first-and-10.
Deans’s interception seemed to ignite the entire Marshall side of the field. The Lions went back to churning out yards on the ground with Max Welsh, David Sherrell, and Luke Brodie with a change of pace mixed in with Wyatt Geltz and Silas Dean. A swing pass from Brodie to Welsh gave the Lions a first down in Robinson territory at the 39-yard line. The drive stalled, however, so Luke Brodie punted the ball into the end zone, and Robinson started a drive at their own 20 with just over 7 minutes left in the game.
The Maroons got a first down and drove the ball to their own 38 where they fumbled the ball and Marshall’s Wyatt Geltz recovered at the Robinson 42 with 5:52 to go on the clock. A run by David Sherrell moved the pigskin to the Robinson 35, then another run moved the ball to the 33 where Marshall had a 3rd-and-1. Luke Brodie then executed a read option where he sprinted around the left corner to get the first down at the Maroons’ 32. On the first-down play, Luke Brodie went play-action and threaded a pass to Silas Dean over the middle as Dean ran a slant pattern from right to left. Dean caught the pass in stride and easily raced upfield into the end zone untouched for a Marshall touchdown. With the two-point try no good, the Lions now led 20-7 with 3:15 to go in the ballgame.
As Robinson was trying to play catch-up, a fumble recovered by Marshall’s Reed Ramey at the Marshall 44 with 2:14 left, then after Robinson got the ball back, an interception by Marshall’s Bryce Parker at the Lions 26 with 1:28 to go sealed the win. A victory formation snap ended the losing streak against Robinson as well as exorcising the 2nd half dementors that plagued the Lions during their three-game skid. When the clock winded down to zero, the Marshall team, coaches, and fans all celebrated the big win by the score of 20-7. Interestingly, the last time Marshall defeated Robinson in 2019, the Lions also scored 20 points to win that game which was played on the same field.
For the Lions, Luke Brodie ran the ball 63 yards on 17 carries and a touchdown and 2-point conversion. Brodie also passed for 72 yards and 2 touchdowns on 5 for 9 passing. Max Welsh rushed the ball for 39 yards and had 2 receptions for 45 yards and a touchdown. Silas Dean ran for 29 yards and caught 2 passes for 29 yards and a touchdown.
On a night when the Marshall defense played its best game of the season, Rocco Giannavola led the Lions with 14 tackles. Luke Brodie finished with 8, while Thomas Stafford and Lachlan Smith each had 7. Silas Dean and Bryce Parker each had an interception, and Eli Thompson, Wyatt Geltz, and Reed Ramey each had a fumble recovery.
Marshall begins Homecoming activities this week culminating with a conference game this Friday night at home against Casey-Westfield. Kickoff for the game is scheduled for 7:00 PM at Bush Field. The Powder Puff games at Bush Field are scheduled for this Wednesday beginning at 7:00 PM (no passes - $2 entry fee for a fundraising activity). Let’s fill the bleachers for both of these events.
Marshall QB Luke Brodie runs over a Robinson defender in damp field conditions during the Lions' win
Marshall's Silas Dean hydroplanes through the grass against Robinson during the Lions' big win
Marshall's David Sherrell (8) follows his blockers through the hole against Robinson
Bryce Parker goes into a Slip N Slide flashback after Marshall beat Robinson 20-7
Max Welsh (23) gets good blocking up front for a Marshall first down at Robinson