On opening night of the 2023 high school football season in Kentucky, the Marshals traveled to Bardstown to play Bethlehem High School. A Class 1A District 2 team, Bethlehem finished last season with a record of 8-3 and after an opening round bye in the state playoffs due to no opponent out of District 1, they lost in the second round to Crittenden County 33-20.
The Marshals were 3-8 last season after winning three of their first four games including a 54-0 season opening win over Ballard Memorial. Bethlehem proved to be a much tougher start to this season and handed the Marshals a 55-13 loss in the first ever meeting between the two teams.
Moving the ball wasn’t a problem for either team with over 800 yards combined in offense but the Marshals just couldn’t get into the endzone after several nice drives including their first of the game after electing to receive the opening kick.
Sophomore quarterback Neyland Jezik completed a nice 32-yard pass to senior Jordan Clapp and senior Aiden Dunigan picked up a few more yards on the ground before the drive ended on an interception setting up Bethlehem’s first touchdown one play later on a run from the 30 by Martavious Smith.
Back in Bethlehem territory again on their next drive, another interception set up another Bethlehem touchdown following a 56-yard drive. With the extra point attempt no good, the Eagles held a 13-0 lead.
The Marshals traveled down to the Bethlehem nine-yard line on their next possession, highlighted by a big yardage pickup on a completed throw by Dunigan and nice ground gains by Dunigan and sophomore Ethan Webber as the first quarter ended.
Facing fourth down and 13 yards, an incomplete pass turned the ball over on downs and Bethlehem scored on their third straight possession, an 87-yard pass from quarterback Nicholas Osborne to Isaiah Ballard for a 20-0 lead. Bethlehem went up 27-0 following a 64-yard drive and 11-yard touchdown run by Smith before the Marshals got on the board with their next possession.
Starting on the 39-yard line after the kickoff return by Clapp, the Marshals put together a 61-yard drive with Dunigan going in for the touchdown. Dalton Hartman added the extra point.
Bethlehem took a 34-7 lead into halftime, this time following a 71-yard drive. The Marshals traveled into Bethlehem territory on their final possession of the half down to the 25 but turned the ball over on downs.
Bethlehem received the second half kick and the Marshals got the break they needed, a fumble by the Eagles recovered by junior Ben Burd. Once again driving deep into Bethlehem territory to the 11-yard line, the Marshals faced fourth down and following an incomplete pass, turned it back over on downs.
Osbourne connected with Emanuel Cheek for the next Bethlehem touchdown and 41-7 lead but the Marshals continued to move the ball downfield, scoring on their next possession to open the fourth quarter. Dunigan found the endzone on a four-yard run following a 65-yard drive. The extra point attempt was blocked but the Marshals put six more points on the board.
Bethlehem scored twice more to close out the 55-13 win. A 15-yard pass for touchdown caught by Caleb Mattingly and 15-yard touchdown run by Brayden Welch.
The Marshals over 300 yards of offense was split fairly evenly between the ground and in the air. Bethlehem racked up nearly 500 yards of offense with the majority coming on the ground with just over 300 yards on 29 carries, half of those yards picked up by Smith.
Next week, the Marshals travel to Leitchfield to play Grayson County. The Cougars won their season opener 14-7 over Edmonson County.
Marshall 0 7 0 6 – 13
Bethlehem 13 21 7 14 – 55
Game Stats:
Rushing
Jackson Mehmet 5/40
Luke Webber 5/37
Aiden Dunigan 13/27, 2 TD
Luke Nimmo 5/19
Grant Franklin 1/7
Jordan Clapp 1/3
Passing
Neyland Jezik 7/15, 121 YDS, 2 INT
Aiden Dunigan 1/1, 41 YDS
Dalton Hartman 1/3, 20 YDS
Receptions
Kameron Bowerman 4/107
Toren Redmond 2/37
Jackson Mahmet 2/18
Ethan Webber 1/10
Leading tacklers
Aiden Dunigan 6
Colton Trexler 5
Blaze Brown 5
Carson Lichtenberg 5