The Red Bud Musketeers moved to 2-0 with a win over the Roxana Shells Friday night.

The game began with Red Bud kicking to the Shells who went four-and-out on their first possession. The Musketeers took the punt to midfield and set up their offense with Ayden Shemwell at QB. The Boys moved the ball well, getting down to the Roxana 2-yard line but the Shells intercepted a pass at the goal line and returned the ball to their 23 to stop the Musketeers’ chance at an early lead. The Shells drove down to the Red Bud two before punching it in on a 2-yard TD run. The PAT gave Roxana a 7-0 lead to end the first quarter of play. Roxana was able to stop the Red Bud offense following the ensuing kick-off taking over near mid-field and moving the ball deep into Musketeer territory. With 9:37 remaining in the second quarter the Shells scored their second touchdown on a 1-yard run; the 2-point conversion made the Roxana lead 15-0. Midway through the second quarter with the Shells driving, cornerback Chase Lucht intercepted a tipped pass giving the Musketeers the ball at their own 48-yard line. With under 2 minutes to play in the half, Red Bud scored on a 2-yard run by Nick Gantner. Lane Brockmeyer split the uprights and the Boys were on the board. The half ended with the Shells up 15-7.

During the halftime break, Red Bud made some adjustments based on the Shells’ defensive tendencies, adjusting the blocking schemes of the Musketeer line in order to improve the running game. During the third quarter, Red Bud put together a drive that moved the ball to the Roxana 30. Red Bud converted a third and eight on a 10-yard pass from Thomas Friess to Owen Liefer to move the ball to the Roxana 12-yard line. Two plays later, Friess found junior Sam Easter in the end zone for the TD. Friess finished with 5 completions in 10 attempts with 47 yards, a TD and 2 interceptions.The 2-point conversion was stopped making the score 15-13 at the end of the third frame.

The Musketeer defense took control during the fourth quarter, shutting down the Roxana running game and notching turnovers on fumble recoveries by Brockmeyer and Trace Wegener. Red Bud took the lead with 6:37 left in the quarter on a 9-yard run by Gantner; the 2-point conversion failed but Red Bud was up 19-15. Roxana was able to drive into Musketeer territory but was stopped by the Red Bud defense when Easter recovered a fumble at the Roxana 42-yard line. Red Bud iced the game on a 9-yard TD run by Gantner, the PAT made the final score 26-15. Gantner was the leading rusher with 86 yards on 21 carries and 3 touchdowns. Shemwell was 5 for 10 passing for 55 yards and 2 interceptions. Chase Lucht led the defense with 8 tackles, followed by Devin Hall with 6 tackles and an assist.

The Musketeers travel to Aviston to battle the Breese Central Cougars Friday night. Central is 1-1 this season, suffering a loss in Mater Dei last week. Kick-off is at 7:00.