Bears drop season opener
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(Marshall) -- Both St. Joe and Marshall came into the season with high expectations, both teams had talented running backs and both teams had 10 win seasons a year ago. But in the end it was the home team Marshall that came out on top.

The Redhawks game plan was simple, give the ball to Jamar Wimberly, and after running for nearly 300 yards and 3 touchdowns in helping Marshall to a 40-27 win over the Bears in the opener for both teams.

Marshall took a 6-0 lead in the first quarter as the Redhawks went on an 11 play drive that ended with a 37 yard Jamar Wimberly touchdown run.

The Bears would take the lead in the second quarter as Jeremy Rush threw a 72 yard touchdown pass to DeVonte Jones, Josh Akins kick was good to give the Bears a 7-6 lead.

On the ensuing possession for Marshall, the Redhawks fumbled the ball which was recovered by the Bears and 4 plays later, Jamaal Jackson scored a 2 yard touchdown and the Bears had a 13-7 lead.

Marshall didn't take long to respond as the Redhawks drove 80 yards and scored on a 5 yard touchdown pass from Caleb Vincent to Kyle Waidelich from 5 yards out. The Redhawks would add the two point conversion and had a 14-13 lead.

What is probably the turning point of the game came late in the second quarter as the Bears were unable to gain a first down on a 4th down and 1 at the St. Joe 45 yard line. The Redhawks took just one play to swing the momentum to the home team as Jamar Wimberly scored on a 45 yard run to up their lead to 20-13 heading into the half.

Marshall would take a 26-13 lead when Cody Boughton had a 1 yard run. But the Bears responded on the very next play as Devonte Jones returned the kickoff back 90 yards for a touchdown to pull to make the score 26-20.

Later in the third quarter following a St. Joseph punt, the Redhawks Cody Boughton scored on a 90 yard touchdown run as Marshall led 32-20.

St. Joseph would pull within a score as Jamaal Jackson scored on a 43 yard touchdown run to cut Marshall's lead to 32-27.

The Redhawks would cap the scoring as quarterback Caleb Vincent connected on a 38 yard touchdown pass to give Marshall 40-27 advantage.

The Bears fall to 0-1 on the season, the Bears first regular season loss since 2006. St. Joe travels to Battle Creek Harper Creek on Thursday to face the Beavers who defeated Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 33-7.


SCORING SUMMARY
St. Joseph  0 13  7 7 -- 27
 Marshall    6 14 12 8 -- 40

MR - Jamar Wimberly 37 yard run (Jake Herman kick blocked)
SJ - Devonte Jones 72 pass from Jeremy Rush (Josh Akins kick good)
SJ - Jamaal Jackson 2 yard run (Akins kick wide right)
MR - Kyle Waidelich 5 yard pass from Caleb Vincent (PAT pass to Waidelich)
MR - Jamar Wimberly 45 yard run (Vincent pass incomplete)
MR - Cody Boughton 1 yard run (Herman kick wide left)
SJ - Devonte Jones 91 yard kickoff return (Akins kick good)
MR - Cody Boughton 90 yard run (rush no good)
SJ - Jamaal Jackson 43 yard run (Akins kick good)
MR - Jake Herman 38 yard pass from Caleb Vincent (PAT pass to Waidelich)

Elsewhere around the Big 16

Lakeshore 49, Sturgis 0 - Kohn-Lehmann Field at Al Stockman Stadium , Stevensville
Lakeshore quarterback Eric Lemon completed 11 of 15 passes for 222 yards as the Lancers beat Sturgis 49-0.  Lakeshore's defense gave up only 106 of total of offense by the Trojans.
Battle Creek Central 27, Benton Harbor 7 - Filstrup Field, Benton Harbor
The Bearcats defense returned an interception for a touchdown on the opening play and held the Tigers to just 7 points as Battle Creek Central defeated Benton Harbor 27-7
Niles 50, Coldwater 15 - Viking Field, Niles
The Vikings scored 20 first quarter points and held a 44-0 lead going into halftime, as the Vikings blew out Coldwater 50-15. David Garner had a fumble return and a reception for touchdowns.
Battle Creek Lakeview 26, Mattawan 7 - Spartan Memorial Stadium, Battle Creek
Lakeview's John Ayers scored two rushing touchdowns and had one receiving touchdown as Battle Creek Lakeview beat Mattawan 26-7.
Harper Creek 33, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 7 - Griffith Stadium, Kalamazoo
Ty Blaskie had 154 yards of rushing as Harper Creek scored 33 unanswered points won their opener on Thursday 33-7.  Harper Creek outgained Loy Norrix 391-141
Portage Central 48, Kalamazoo Central 6 - McCamley Field, Portage
Portage Central ran for 417 of their 438 yards of total offense as the Mustangs beat Kalamazoo Central  48-6, Spencer Munson had 190 yards rushing while teammate Brian Wise had 131 yards rushing.
Portage Northern 33, Lumen Christi 26 - Withington Stadium, Jackson
Portage Northern converted all three Lumen Christi turnovers into scores as the Huskies beat Jackson Lumen Christi 33-26.  Northern's Ben Hutchins scored on an 84 yard run for Northern.