Rick Peck
Special To McDonald County Press
The McDonald County freshman football team fell behind 8-0 before rallying for a 42-26 win Monday night at McDonald County High School.
Neosho took the opening drive and marched down the field to take an 8-0 lead with 5:25 left in the first quarter.
McDonald County answered on its ensuing possession, capped by the first of four touchdowns by quarterback Shiloh Jackson, the first coming on a 20-yard run. Neosho led 8-6 after the try for a two-point conversion failed.
McDonald County took the lead for good on Neosho's next possession when Zach Woods returned an interception 65 yards for a touchdown on the last play of the first quarter. Jackson's conversion gave the young Mustangs a 14-8 lead.
McDonald County stretched the lead to 20-8 before half on Jackson's three-yard run with 1:07 left before intermission.
McDonald County opened the second half with Jackson hitting Micah Burkholder with a 58-yard touchdown pass. Marshall Foreman ran the conversion to put the Mustangs up 28-8.
After Neosho cut the lead to 28-14, defensive back Oakley Roessler stripped a Neosho wide receiver of the ball and returned it 15 yards for a touchdown. Foreman again ran the conversion, giving McDonald County a 36-14 lead.
Jackson capped McDonald County's scoring with a 54-yard run.
Neosho scored two late touchdowns to make the final 42-26.
The McDonald County junior varsity dropped a 46-0 decision at Neosho High School.
The freshmen's next game is set for Aug. 31 at Aurora while the junior varsity host the Houn Dawgs on the same night. Game time is 6 p.m.
Sports on 08/27/2015