The Lebanon Yellowjackets waited out a lengthy lightning delay on Friday, but ran away from the Waynesville Tigers for a 42-6 victory.
The win continues a strong start to the season for Lebanon, now 2-0, and continued Waynesville's early-season misery.
Coming off a 31-14 Week 1 victory at Rolla, Lebanon opened strong on Friday against the Tigers, as junior John Berry scored on touchdown runs of six and 12 yards in the first quarter, giving Lebanon a 14-0 lead.
Only a muffed punt kept the ‘Jackets from pitching a shutout in the first half. The ‘Jackets stuffed Waynesville near midfield after Berry’s second score and forced a Tiger punt, but Lebanon dropped the ensuing punt and on second-and-long, junior quarterback Ethan Brown turned a broken play into a 29-yard touchdown run as time expired in the first quarter.
PHOTOS: WAYNESVILLE VS. LEBANON
It was the first points of the season for Waynesville as the Tigers were coming off a 42-0 defeat in Week 1 to West Plains.
The second quarter was all Lebanon as the ‘Jackets answered the Brown touchdown by marching the ball 55 yards on eight plays and Hunter Bray capped the drive with a one-yard touchdown run.
With the ‘Jackets leading 28-6 at the half, Friday’s high school football game at Yellowjacket Stadium went into a prolonged lightning delay.
The 'Jackets emerged from the break by picking up right where they had left off, stuffing Waynesville's offense on the first possession of the second half, holding the Tigers on fourth down at its own 43-yard line.
Ten plays later, LHS turned a 28-6 halftime lead into a 34-6 lead as Cole McBride scored on a three-yard run.
"We've dealt with delays in year's past and those are always a challenge because you never know how your team is going to respond out of it, but I think, obviously our kids did a great job of repsonding coming out of that," Lebanon head coach Will Christian said. "It was one of those nights, but between the lines, it was an outstanding night.
"We had a lot of energy and I thought we played well in all three facets."
Other highlights by LHS included a spectacular diving grab in the end zone for a 33-yard touchdown catch by Jack Ehrhardt, giving LHS a 28-6 lead in the second quarter, and sophomore Ry Evans added a 26-yard run in the fourth quarter to complete the Lebanon scoring.
For Lebanon, Friday’s victory comes on the heels of a 31-14 week 1 victory at Rolla in which the ‘Jackets rushed for 265 yards and saw three of its four passing attempts by junior Cole Breeden go for touchdowns.
On Friday, the 'Jackets finished with 330 yards of total offense, including 133 yards rushing by Berry. Breeden finished the game 3-for-5 passing for 53 yards.
Lebanon (2-0 overall, 2-0 Ozark Conference) will be on the road in week 3 for a Highway 5 showdown between the ‘Jackets and the Camdenton Lakers, who are also 2-0 after a 54-41 win over West Plains on Friday.
"That one is always fun, but we are going to enjoy this one for a few more hours and then we are going to get busy," Christian said.
LEBANON 42, WAYNESVILLE 6
Waynesville 6 0 0 0 — 6
Lebanon 14 14 7 7 — 28
First quarter
LHS — John Berry 6 yard run (kick failed)
LHS — Berry 12 yard run (Hunter Bray run)
Second quarter
WHS — Ethan Brown 29 yard run (kick failed), 0:00
LHS — Hunter Bray 1 yard run (Lakiah Capps kick), 8:31
LHS — Jack Ehrhardt 33 yard pass from Cole Breeden (Capps kick), 2:22
Third quarter
LHS — Cole McBride 3 yard run (Capps kick)
Fourth quarter
LHS — Ry Evans 26 yard run (Capps kick)
