Led by the running of Ethan Lebkisher and a punishing ground game, the Marshall Statesmen won big in their latest high-school football game.
The Statesmen (6-2, 3-1) routed the visiting Wakefield Warriors (2-6, 0-4) by a 40-15 score in a Liberty District game Friday night (Oct. 18). Marshall is now tied for second place in the district with the Langley Saxons (7-1, 3-1).
The victory gave Marshall one more victory than its win total last fall, when the Statesmen finished 5-5. The six wins are Marshall’s most since the Statesmen finished 6-5 in 2019.
The 5-foot-10, 190-pound Lebkisher, a senior fullback, ran for 211 yards and five touchdowns on 22 carries in the victory. He highlighted a ground attack that churned out more than 360 rushing yards even as Wakefield’s defense stacked the line of scrimmage.
Marshall quarterback Michael Spriggs was 3 of 5 passing for 72 yards, and Josh Paine scored on a 70-yard run. Paine had 76 yards rushing and Spriggs 36, with Carter Oketunji having 17.
Paine, Alexandre Milbrink and Peyton Lubbe all had one catch apiece for the Statesmen. Randy Park booted four extra points.
Marshall defeated Langley, 28-21, earlier this season.
Among the offensive linemen and tight ends leading Marshall’s running push were Noah Zabrowski, James Ely, Isaiah Fortune, Sulaiman Baker, Christopher Rios, Anders Peterson, Brandon Kitchell and Oliver Smith.
Defenseively, Xavier Williams led the way with eight tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery.
