Staff writer
The Marion High School football team lost to Hutchinson Trinity, 49-6, Friday in Hutchinson.
The Warriors got on the scoreboard late in the fourth quarter after Dillon Richmond threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Cole Lewman. Lewman ran a corner route to the back pylon on the west side of the end zone. He leaped over a Trinity defender to secure the catch.
“Cole Lewman had a nice catch,” coach Grant Thierolf said. “We wanted to get something positive on the board but we negated it on the kickoff.”
The Celtics answered back on the returning kickoff. Spencer Truman ran back untouched by a Warrior defender for 97 yards. He ran both the length and the width of the field as he sprinted between his blocks.
The play was an example of a Trinity team that would not relent its scoring fury.
The Celtics struck early in the first quarter. Tyler Dyer scored the first points of the game on an inside 10-yard touchdown. He shook off a tackle to run into the end zone.
Trinity scored again on a 62-yard play-action completion from Derek Racette to Michael Mesh. Mesh ran a post route over the middle of the field and Racette hit the receiver in stride.
At the beginning of the second quarter, Trinity was stopped inside the Warrior red zone. Racette, facing fourth-and-7, threw a 28-yard arcing touchdown to Will Bothwell in the west corner of the end zone.
On the next touchdown, Racette kept the football on a run after faking an inside handoff and ran 8 yards past the goal line.
The Celtics would score once more before the end of the half. Inside the Warrior 20-yard line, Racette took the ball on what looked like a quarterback sweep to the right side of the field. However, he intended to pass but was without an open Celtic. With at least four Warriors in the vicinity, Racette seemed to be destined to end the play in the backfield.
He tucked the ball under his arm, and eluded several Warriors while speeding toward the middle of the field. Racette returned inside the hash marks and again looked to pass, but the Warriors coverage remained tight. He then raced to the west sideline and reached the goal line.
“We knew going in that we’d have to play a great game to beat them,” Thierolf said. “They just have one of those teams that comes along rarely for a coach.”
As an example of the special nature of the Trinity football team, a Louisiana State University scout stood behind the south end zone. He attended the game to watch Racette and Mesh.
Without making any noticeable substitutions, the combination of Racette to Mesh struck again, making the score 42-0 on a 20-yard bootleg pass in the third quarter.
Racette finished with 269 yards in the air and three passing touchdowns. He was also the Celtics leading rusher with 68 yards on the ground.
The Marion offense opened up its passing game in the second half. Dakin Ledford caught passes of 5 and 10 yards. Along with his 34-yard touchdown catch, Lewman also had another catch to complete his 65 yards of receiving. Brody Carroll also caught a pass on the west sideline for 9 yards.
“We were throwing out of necessity,” Thierolf said. “They were nice throws. It can only help.”
The Warriors hallmark ground game was stifled. Les Riggs rushed for 49 yards; it was his first game not eclipsing the 100-yard mark. He suffered an injury in the first half and did not return to the game.
“It’s not over for Les,” Thierolf said. “We hope to see him back.”
Freshman Caleb Williams took over for Riggs and rushed for 54 yards. Carroll also had carries in place of Riggs, rushing for 16 yards.
list
RUSHING — Riggs 10-49, Williams 13-54, Randy Regnier 6-4, Carroll 4-16, Mikael Antoszyk 5-2.
PASSING — Richmond 5-13 98 yards 1 TD
RECEIVING — Ledford 2-24, Lewman 2-65 1 TD, Carroll 1-9.
TACKLES — Connor Thierolf 5, Regnier 5, Adam Cope 4, Richmond 3.