NO CONTEST - LHS wins first football playoff game since 1993
Israel Potoczny israel@lebanondailyrecord.com
Nov 6, 2008
SPRINGFIELD — Brett Smith was everywhere on Wednesday.
Playing in a Missouri Class 5 Regional playoff, Lebanon’s first playoff game since 2000, Smith had his biggest game to date on both offense and defense as Lebanon defeated Glendale, 35-10 on Wednesday at John F. Kennedy Stadium in Springfield.
Lebanon recorded its second football playoff win in school history. The other win came in 1993. LHS advance to a Class 5 Sectional, where the team will play on Monday at Raymore Peculiar (9-1), the state’s No. 1 ranked team.
A heavy cross wind slowed the Yellowjackets passing attack on Wednesday and for the first time this season, Lebanon failed to pass for 100 yards. Senior quarterback Ryan Howerton, who entered the game with 3,040 passing yards, completed 14-of-21 passes for just 91 yards.
Enter Smith.
The wind, didn’t slow the 5-foot-10, 165-pound senior, as he ran the ball 34 times for more than 200 yards and capped the Lebanon’s scoring with a two-yard run in the fourth quarter.
“I thought he ran with an unbelievable amount of passion and effort tonight,” Lebanon head coach Will Christian said.
Buoyed by the play of offensive linemen Justin Britt, Trevor Byrd, Justin Mather, Dave Stewart and Zack Cooley, Smith passed the 1,000 yard rushing mark this season on Wednesday.
“Britt, Mather and Byrd, all three of them were just awesome,” Christian said. “Stewart and Cooley played really well too.
Smith’s season yardage is even more impressive when you consider the offensive transformation LHS has undergone this season. Smith’s 1,000 yards came despite playing in an offense that is averaging nearly 40 pass attempts per game.
“I am very proud of him (Smith),” Christian said. “He has been very unselfish knowing that he wasn’t going to get the ball as much in the new system (spread) as he would have in the old (last years Power I).”
But in addition to his standout performance running the ball on Wednesday, his play on defense might have been equally important.
On a night in which Glendale could muster just 143 yards on the ground, Smith made his first start of the season at corner and helped the LHS defense set the tone early.
On the Falcons second play of the game, Smith met tailback Evan Leake five yards deep in the backfield and caused the junior to cough up the ball.
Smith then wrestled away the ball for the fumble recovery and seven plays later, Howerton scampered 10 yards for his 14th rushing touchdown of the season.
It appeared as though Glendale might seize the momentum as Leake intercepted Howerton on the ‘Jackets next possession, which led to a JR Reynolds field goal.
But Lebanon took over at its own 36-yard line with 6:20 remaining in the first half. Lebanon peeled nearly six minutes off the clock on a 64 yard drive that was capped by Trey Overstreet’s 12-yard strike from Howerton with 45 seconds remaining in the second quarter.
The ‘Jackets defense opened the second half by forcing a three-and-out on the first possession, and Overstreet gave LHS a 21-3 lead with 7:31 remaining in the third quarter. The 40-yard reverse, sprung by a big block by senior Phillip Archer, essentially put the game out of reach.
Glendale cut the LHS lead to 21-10 on its next possession, but the LHS defense forced four Glendale interceptions in the second half, including one that was tipped by Smith and recovered by Justin Mather.
“Defending that triple option attack when you don’t see it, it is hard,” Christian said. “I was very pleased with our kids and our (defensive coordinator John) Franks for having them ready to play.
“I thought they did a good job of bending, but not breaking, and more importantly, getting key turnovers.”
Christian said the play of the ‘Jackets defensive linemen, Justin Britt, Trevor Byrd and Dalton Pierce, helped slow down the Falcons ground attack.
“It was extremely important that the defensive line eliminate that surge that (Glendale) has gotten the past four weeks),” Christian said. “When we watched tape, they got off the football and we were scared to death,” Christian said. “Our defensive line took that away.”
