Monroe’s football team had a chance to write a storybook script for the first game on the new artificial turf at Bill Bunkelman Field.

The shorthanded Trojans fell into an early 14-0 hole Thursday night before fighting back to nearly take the lead right before halftime.

Momentum was lost after an opportunity to take command early in the second half slipped away and an experienced Jackson team pulled away for a 35-20 win.

“It’s a process,” said Michigan Football Coaches’ Association Hall of Famer Dave Mifsud who took over the Trojans this season. “We have a lot of growing to do. There are going to be growing pains.

“I liked that we kept playing hard and didn’t give up.”

Monroe punched out a first down on two running plays to start the game, then Jackson took over with an impressive 15-play drive that covered 90 yards and ate more than 7 minutes off the clock.

The Trojan offense went three and out, putting a tired defense right back on the field and Jackson quickly moved for another score.

The Trojans were staring at a 14-0 deficit with 9:49 left in the half.

Monroe answered with a 73-yard drive capped by a 35-yard pass from Ryan Sieler to Aidan Brodie, then Jackson turned the ball over on downs and Sieler found Owen Yount for a 42-yard score.

Suddenly, the home team trailed just 14-13 with 1:36 left in the half.

The defense got the ball back and Monroe moved to the Jackson 15-yard line. A good-sized crowd was expecting the Trojans to grab the lead, but a pass floated just beyond the reach of a receiver as the clock expired.

Monroe’s defense got another nice stop to start the second half and the Trojans gained 7 yards on their first play, but the Jackson defense stiffened to force a punt.

Then, the Vikings seized command with three touchdowns on their next four drives.

Brodie caught a 52-yard TD pass from Sieler in the fourth quarter, but it was too little, too late.

“We got some momentum in the second quarter and showed some life,” Mifsud said. “When they stopped our drive in the third quarter, we kind of got deflated.”

And Jackson knew how to close out the game. The Vikings made the state playoffs last year for the fourth straight season.

“Jackson had 19 returning starters,” Mifsud said. “They have a lot of experience.”

Mifsud, meanwhile, didn’t have a lot of his starters on the field. The coach didn’t want to talk about injuries, but admitted that seven starters did not play on opening night.

Sieler completed 7-of-17 passes for 165 yards, showing great chemistry with Brodie (3 catches for 92 yards) and Yount (2 catches for 51 yards).

The bright spot of the night was Monroe’s new playing surface.

“It’s awesome,” Mifsud said. “It’s a great place to play.”

J – Gibson Drummond 3 run (run failed)

J – Drummond 2 run (Drummond run)

M – Aidan Brodie 35 pass from Ryan Sieler (Nicholas Lieto kick)

M – Owen Yount 42 pass from Sieler (run failed)

J – Charles Thompson 12 run (Drummond run)

J – Kyson Cooper 12 run (kick failed)

J – Thompson 44 run (Drew Bood kick)

M – Brodie 52 pass from Sieler (Lieto kick)

Rushing: Charles Thompson, J, 8-120; Kyson Cooper, J, 9-116; Ryan Sieler, M, 8-43; Dinato Gandara, M, 13-41.

Passing: Ryan Sieler, M, 7-17-165; Gibson Drummond, J, 4-8-72.

Receiving: Aidan Brodie, M, 3-92; Owen Yount, M, 2-51; Tavion Tanner, J, 1-40; Aamar Harrell, 2-21; Angel Rincon, M, 1-14; Kyson Cooper, J, 1-11; Drew Scznsny, M, 1-8.