HALLSVILLE — For the second straight season, the Elysian Fields Yellow Jackets started the Harmony Eagles’ season on a sour note.
After topping the Eagles 27-8 to kick off last year, the Yellow Jackets held on for a 14-13 win at Hallsville’s Bobcat Stadium Friday night to jump start their 2011 campaign.
Friday night’s rematch was nothing short of a grudge match with both teams combining for over 250 yards in penalties.
Trailing 14-13, the Eagles conducted a 74-yard drive before the Yellow Jacket defense ended their threat with an interception inside the 10-yard line.
Christian Smith rushed for 96 yards on 12 attempts and threw for 78 to lead the Yellow Jacket’s offensive attack. Colby Simmons rushed for 52 yards on seven carries.
For the Eagles, it was Michael Hosea leading the charge, running for 135 yards on 21 touches.
The Eagles struck first capping off a 79-yard drive with a six yard touchdown run from Hosea, giving Harmony a 7-0 lead with just over a minute expired in the second quarter.
The Yellow Jackets responded with a 35-yard drive of their own, ending in a two-yard touchdown run from Colby Simmons.
A fumbled kickoff return by the Eagles put Elysian Fields within striking distance with just over a minute to play but a missed field goal sent the contest to the break knotted at 7-7.
Elysian Fields wasted no time in the second half, taking advantage of a free play due to a Harmony false start with Smith connecting with Nathan Hall for a 55-yard touchdown with nine minutes left in the third quarter.
A personal foul on the Yellow Jackets on the following kickoff gave the Eagles excellent field position with the ball of the Jackets 36-yard line. Quarterback Wesley Schoon took matters into his own hands, scrambling for a 41-yard touchdown run. A botched snap on the extra-point attempt, however, resulted with a 14-13 Elysian Field lead.
Hosea picked up 64 of his rushing yards with under four minutes left in the game in what would be the Eagles final possession before the Schoon interception inside the Yellow Jacket 10-yard line gave Elysian Fields the 14-13 win.
Elysian Fields will travel to New Diana next week while Harmony heads to Ore City.