Marion Warriors whip Halstead
After winning just two games last season, Marion High School wasn't given much credit at the start of this season. The Warriors silenced their critics for at least one week with a 14-2 whipping Friday of the Halstead Blue Dragons.
Opening the season on the road is never easy, but MHS disappointed the hometown Dragon fans behind Austin Hager's 178-yard rushing performance, and a stellar defense.
Marion started the game off with a squib kick from the foot of Brian Fruechting which bounced around a few of the Halstead players before they gained control. The tempo of the Marion defense was set on the very first play as Nick Klenda came flying in from his safety position to put a big hit on Halstead's running back.
Halstead went three-and-out on its first possession, giving Marion its first offensive series of the night. The Warriors were on their way to a three-and-out series as well with Hager set to punt the ball away. However, Hager could not handle the high snap from sophomore long snapper Mitch Cady and the ball went out of the back of the end zone for a safety and a 2-0 lead for the Dragons.
After forcing Halstead to go three-and-out once again, Marion started a monster drive that ate up the remainder of the first quarter and part of the second quarter. The senior Hagar and junior quarterback Mitchell Leppke provided solid rushes during the drive. However, it stalled out inside the Halstead 10 yard line as Hagar was stuffed on fourth-and-four.
Halstead was forced to punt again on its next possession and this time the Warriors were determined to find the end zone. Good blocking from the offensive line enabled Hager to eat up the gridiron and eventually score from 20 yards out, with five minutes left in the half.
Leppke ran a nifty keeper around the left end for the two-point conversion making the score 8-2 in favor of the Warriors. Halstead tried to answer before the half but a great tackle by senior Brett Billings on fourth- and-one, gave the Warriors the lead at halftime.
The second half saw more of the same for the Warriors. In the opening drive of the half, Marion again ate up the turf with their ground game and big runs by Hager and Leppke. This time however, it was sophomore Sheldon Boone with a great run from 19 yards out to extend the Warrior lead to 14-2 with seven minutes, 12 seconds left to play in the third quarter.
Boone took the ball between the guard and tackle and broke through three Dragon defenders on his way to the end zone. Boone then put an exclamation point on his touchdown run with a huge tackle on the ensuing kickoff.
Halstead looked like they might make a bid for the end zone on their next possession, and was driving the ball down the field until junior Derek Riggs made a bone-crushing tackle and third-and-short forcing the Dragons to punt again. However, the Dragon punt traveled all the way down to the Warrior three yard line putting the Warrior offensive in a big hole. After picking up a couple of first downs, the Warriors were forced to punt the ball away to end the third quarter.
The fourth quarter started again with a big hit by senior Hank Collett which really got the Warriors and their fans fired up. By now the Dragons were getting desperate and going to the air. They appeared to be heading for a score when senior cornerback Chase Carlson stepped perfectly in front of the Halstead defender and recorded his first interception of the year.
Halstead did get the ball back once more and this time Leppke picked off the Dragon pass and Marion ran the clock out to end the game and preserve the victory.
The Warriors travel to Ellinwood Friday to try and match their total victories from last season.
