Warriors de-claw Panthers with opening-game shutout
Sports reporter
It wasn't the game that had Marion High School football fans talking about a trip to state, but nonetheless the Warriors opened the season with a 13-0 home shutout of Nickerson.
Two big plays, one offensively and one defensively, contributed to the victory that saw MHS lose three fumbles.
"I'm just going to attribute it to first game jitters," head coach Grant Thierolf said.
Fortunately for the Warriors, the Panthers had a worse case, losing four fumbles and throwing an interception. Both teams combined for five turnovers in the first quarter.
"We haven't had a problem like that at all," Thierolf said referring to pre-season practice. "I bet I can count on three fingers how many times we've had problems."
One problem the Warriors didn't have came with just under two minutes left in the first quarter.
After a Panther punt, MHS took over at its own three yard line. A fumbled snap on first down spelled trouble for the Warriors but quarterback Josh Kelsey recovered to give Marion a second chance. After a few Nelson runs and an incomplete pass, MHS had a third-and-seven on its own 18 yard line. Kelsey dropped back and fired 15 yards to the right side for slot back Jason Hett. A Nickerson defender went for the interception, but Kelsey put it just out of his reach. Hett grabbed the pass and sprinted the rest of the way for an 82-yard score.
"It was a nice throw by Josh," Thierolf said. "We expect our senior quarterback to make that throw."
Thierolf also was impressed with Hett. The junior, who was a starting guard on the Warrior basketball team last year, saw limited action on the football field a year ago, but nothing like the long touchdown catch Friday.
"He's one of the best athletes we've coached," Thierolf said. "He's just now starting to see himself as a football player and he's a kid who can make plays."
Jeff Richmond's extra point made it 7-0, a score that would last until halftime.
The second quarter was marred by more turnovers, including a Russell Ploutz interception for MHS, punts, and penalties.
The third quarter began as the second ended when MHS was called for a holding penalty on the opening kickoff. For the game there were 19 penalties with Marion contributing nine for 81 yards. Thierolf, while not happy, knows there is a solution.
"Everything we did wrong tonight is very correctable," he said. "That's our job as coaches to make sure we get that done next week."
Jeremy Vondenkamp's punt to open the fourth quarter put the Panthers on their own 17. It would lead to the much-needed defensive play Marion didn't get in last year's 7-6 victory at Nickerson. But not before another defensive lapse.
Vondenkamp was flagged for a questionable running into the kicker call that gave the Panthers new life deep in their own territory. On third-and-seven the Panthers completed a pass they wish they hadn't.
Nelson, who doubles as a linebacker as well and was held to 72 yards on the ground, made up for his sub-par game by knocking the ball loose from the Nickerson receiver. Richmond scooped up the bouncing pigskin and scampered 29 yards for the score, making it in just inches before being leveled out-of-bounds.
"Casey gave me a pretty good present," Richmond said with a smile.
After a missed extra point, the Warriors led 13-0 with 8:13 to go. The score gave the Warriors sideline confidence, but after 18 years of coaching Thierolf knows the game was far from over.
"You don't want to relax," he said. "Especially when we missed the PAT."
Fortunately for MHS its defense held onto the shutout the rest of the way. Senior Michael Brookens led the way on defense with 14 tackles and one fumble recovery. Junior Casey Nickelson was in on 13 tackles and senior Adam Depler 12. Thierolf also saw good defensive play from his young guys.
"We found some depth tonight," he said.
Youngster Justin Anderson, Jake Czarnowsky, Emmanuel Jackson, Clay Riggs, and John Barr III, all playing in either their first varsity game or seeing the most action of their career, impressed Thierolf.
"If we can get those guys playing at the varsity level, it makes us that much better," he said.
Thierolf guaranteed his team would be ready to play Friday at Halstead, a 27-6 winner against Haven this past week, or the blame would be on the coaches.
As far as the Warriors are concerned this win is in the books, and MHS stands at 1-0.
"We're never going to turn one down," he said. "We're never going to give one back."
