Menard hands undefeated Robert Lee their first loss of the season, starts their first six-man district at 1-0
The Menard Yellowjackets initiated their very first district sixman football season with a solid win over the previously unbeaten Robert Lee Steers on Friday, October 7, 2022. Menard came out on top 64-38.
The District 13-A contest was held in Robert Lee, and the Steers were not ready for what Menard brought to Coke County.
“This game, I believe, would be the literal definition of a bittersweet win,” said head coach Bryson Oliver. “I knew whatever team came out hot with intensity and forced turnovers would have the edge, and that was us.”
Oliver was pleased with the attitude his team came out with, one that had the Jackets up 20-0 just a couple of minutes into the game. Menard’s Joel Guerrero scored one of his 6 total touchdowns almost immediately after kickoff. The Jackets then got the onside kick, scored again, and recovered a fumble for a touchdown. Oliver says the Steers “were just never able to bounce back from that blow.”
Senior Guerrero was on track to have a game for the ages, having 5 rushing touchdowns for about 300 yards and 1 defensive touchdown, and that was just in a quarter and a half. As the Jackets were driving to score and “45” right before the half, Joel took the pitch and made a cut— he went down immediately, holding his knee.
Guerrero was assisted off the field and carted to the locker room. He returned to the sideline shortly after, knee stabilized.
Team captain and leader Guerrrero had not missed any playing time prior to this injury, so his teammates were a bit overwhelmed with his absence on the field. “I preached to the boys at halftime that we are a team and are not completely defined on whether or not Joel plays. They responded well. We were going against a stacked deck, and Robert Lee smelled blood in the water. They came out swinging in the second half.”
The Yellowjackets were able to overcome the adversity, getting the ball to the endzone behind the leadership of senior Isaiah Stanislawski and junior Wyatt Terrell, and even scored 2 more times on defense by recovering fumbles for touchdowns.
Oliver said “This was a massive win for this community, and it set us up in a good position for a playoff chance. We have Veribest, Irion County, and Eden left [in district play], and we only have to win 2 of 3 to secure a playoff spot.” The Yellowjackets will take advantage of a BYE week this week, and Oliver feels it came at exactly the right time.
“These boys worked hard for 3 weeks in preparation for the Robert Lee game, so we are going to try and let them rest a little while getting them stronger mentally.”
Unfortunately, Guerrero’s MRI revealed both a torn ACL and cartilage damage. His return to the football field is questionable at best.
On Thursday, October 13, the Junior Jackets will play Zephyr, at home, 5:30 p.m.
Other scores from district 13-A last Friday night, 10/7: Veribest 41, Eden 21; Irion County was open.
As the varsity Yellowjackets take a breather on Friday 10/14, district games this week are: Robert Lee at Veribest and Eden at Irion County.