Warriors whip Bluestem
By Eric Clark
Sports Editor
It's beginning to sound like an old record skipping and repeating as the needle passes over a gauge in the grooved vinyl. But for the Marion Warrior football team, it's music to their ears.
The Warriors spearheaded a 56-14 victory over Leon-Bluestem Friday night in their second game of district play.
Marion got on the board early in the game, as Casey Nelson scooped up a fumble and returned it 20 yards for the Warriors' first touchdown. Steven Boone added the PAT kick to give Marion a 7-0 lead.
Boone blasted in from five yards out minutes later to give Marion a 14-0 advantage after the senior running back split the uprights on the extra point.
But Bluestem cut into the margin as Josh Hawley found Joe Spence for a five-yard touchdown. Hawley found Spence on the two-point conversion to cut the lead to six.
In the second quarter, Boone blasted through for a four-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 12 points after the Warriors failed on the extra point.
Again, Bluestem answered offensively, as Spence rumbled to a 52-yard touchdown scamper. Bluestem failed to score on the two-point conversion, and the Warriors led 20-14.
The Warrior offensive flood-gates burst after the Bluestem touchdown.
Nelson scampered 33 yards to a touchdown and Boone added the two-point conversion moments later.
Marion's Clayton Chamberland got into the score book, as the quarterback scored Marion's final touchdown of the first half from three yards out. The senior also ran in the two-point conversion to give Marion a 36-14 lead at intermission.
In the second half, it was all Marion, both offensively and defensively.
The Warrior defense pitched a shutout in the second half, and offense continued to roll.
Chamberland and Boone both scored on an 18-yard run and 12-yard run respectively in the third quarter. The Warriors failed to convert the first extra point, but Boone connected on the second one to give Marion a 35-point lead.
In the final quarter, David DeForest added the last nail in the proverbial coffin, scoring from three yards out. Boone added the PAT kick and Marion rolled to the final 56-14 victory.
The Warriors compiled 439 total yards on offense — 391 on the ground.
Boone led Marion rushers with 188 yards on 28 carries, while Nelson racked up 89 yards on just eight carries for the game.
Chamberland finished with 47 yards rushing on six carries, and was three for nine for 40 yards passing.
Defensively, Marion held Bluestem to 177 total yards and forced five punts and one fumble.
Spearheading the Marion defense was Boone, who recorded six solo tackles and five assists. Tyler Smith, Calvin Riggs, and Neil Waner each had four solo tackles in the win. Smith also had four assists, while Waner finished with one.
The Warriors are now 2-0 in district play and 7-1 overall. In the last seven games, the Warriors have allowed their opponents just 49 points, while compiling 265 points of their own.
The Warriors travel Thursday to Eureka for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
