Staff writer
It came down to an extra point for a second straight year, but Marion had the advantage this time around.
With the wind swirling a soft, cold mist erratically Thursday evening, kicking should have been frustrating for both MHS kicker Brian Freuchting and Trojans Max Bertinchamp, but both kickers were a perfect two for two on extra point opportunities during regulation to tie the score at 14-14.
Hillsboro received the ball first in overtime and scored on a 10-yard slant completion between Jacob Fish and Ben Bebermeyer. But Bertinchamp pushed his kick wide of the right goal post.
The Warriors took over and ran the ball three consecutive times, culminating in a Matt Sprowls 1-yard touchdown dive.
The game was now up to the leg of Freuchting, who just barely sneaked his kick on the inside of the right post and gave Marion the victory 21-20.
“We have had good snaps by Mitch, good holds by Sheldon, and good kicks by Brian all year long,” Marion head coach Grant Thierolf said. “That has been a very good team for us this year.”
The kick was the conclusion to a great team effort in victory and a 6-3 season.
The Marion defense, especially the Marion secondary played exceptionally well, grabbing two interceptions and holding the Trojans to just 212 yards passing. The coverage on Hillsboro wide receivers was like wrapping a blanket over a fire. Randy Carlson and Jordan Versch, who filled in for Mitch Cady, played well at cornerback.
On consecutive plays, Carlson saved a touchdown and caught an interception. On the first play, the Trojan wide receiver ran a go-route and tried to beat Carlson to the corner of the end zone. Carlson was able to bat the ball away with his left hand as the receiver tried to reach over his left shoulder for the catch.
In spite of Marion’s exceptional play, Hillsboro was able to strike first and score on a 17-yard slant to Taylor Hagen late in the first quarter. The Marion offense came alive in the second quarter to take the lead at halftime.
Although the Trojans were keying on Sheldon Boone the entire night, he was able to gash Hillsboro for 149 yards on the ground. It was Boone’s tough running on Marion’s first scoring drive that eventually led to a 1-yard quarterback sneak by Sprowls for the touchdown.
“People know that he is the center of our offense and he still comes through game after game,” Thierolf said of Boone. “He gets the tough yards, and has to run through people.”
Despite Boone’s efforts, Drew Maddox was the offensive standout for the Warriors.
He ran for 169 yards and averaged 11.3 yards per carry. He was repeatedly able to run by Trojan defenders, but never more effectively than on his 35-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.
Hillsboro was able to lock up the Warriors in the second half and scored in the third quarter on another slant pass to Hagen.
In the fourth quarter, Marion was driving and got the ball within the 20-yard line, but the Trojan defense stopped them on fourth down and took over.
With approximately six minutes left in the game and the score tied, the Trojans took a methodical approach to offense. They ran the ball down the teeth of the Warrior defense and only passed one time for a first down.
To move onto the playoffs, Hillsboro only needed to lose by less than 13. The Trojans were played for overtime. They ended the drive by running on third-and-long and punting. With time depleted, the Warriors could not move the ball fast enough to extend their season.
“We just were not able to make the big plays that we needed in order to make the season extend another week.” Thierolf said. “They did what they had to do in order to move on.
“We got the county bragging rights for the year but it still does not feel like a complete win.”
Stats
Rushing — Maddox: 15-169; 1 TD; Boone: 24-149; Sprowls: 11-25; 2 TD
Passing — Sprowls: 1-4; 3 yards
Receiving — Colten Johnson: 1-3
Defense — Parker Ash: 1 sack; Carlson: 1 int; Johnson: 1 int; Nick Klenda: two tackles for loss; Eric Vogel: 1 sack