Marion JH downs Benton

Marion JH downs Benton

The Marion Junior High Patriots made the 154-mile trek to Central Arkansas to tame the Benton Panthers last Thursday night in a 30-18 non-conference win.

The Panthers were fresh off a 34-0 benefit game defeat of Hot Springs Lakeside which saw the Jr.

Panthers gain 403 yards while holding Lakeside to 16 total offensive yards.

The Benton crowd was anticipating another win for the Panthers as the Panthers had posted an undefeated 8th grade year, winning each game convincingly.

The game started with a Panther drive at the Benton 36 and stalling 48 yards later at the Marion 16 yard line.

On Marion’s first offensive play of the game, quarterback Eric Burks’ pass was intercepted by D’Athony Harper at the Marion 47 and returned to the Patriot 19.

Again, the Patriot defense held and the Patriot offense took over at the Patriot 22 yard line. The Patriots 2nd drive began at the Patriot 23, but an errant snap was covered at the Patriot 5 yard line by the Marion quarterback.

The Patriots moved the ball to their 27, before beginning the second quarter with a punt to the Panther 48, which was returned for a 52 yard touchdown by Daeshawn Ward of the Panthers.

Trailing 6 -0, the Patriots struck quickly with a 76 yard touchdown run by Kentrail Jones on the first offensive play of the ensuing possession. The 2 point conversion was taken in by quarterback, Daedrick Cail for a Patriot 8-6 lead.

Benton retook the lead with a 6-play, 57-yard drive. Braxton Slaughter caught a 13 yard touchdown pass from Peyton Hudgins. The two-point conversion attempt failed, but Benton led 12-8 with 4:28 left in the first half.

Marion responded with two big play drives.

Anthony Price ran 56 yards to pay dirt and Slade Webb caught a 73 yard touchdown pass from quarterback, Eric Burks. The Patriots converted both two-point conversions.

The Patriots who only ran 8 first half offensive plays took a 24-12 lead into halftime.

The Patriots added to their lead on the first drive of the second half when they marched 70 yards in 8 plays capped by a 34-yard touchdown pass from Burks to Markel Wynn.

The Panther defense held Marion out of the end zone on the two-point conversion, but the Patriots led 30-12.

Benton responded with a touchdown drive of their own on their first possession of the third quarter. It took the Panthers 6 plays to cover 45 yards. Austin Drewry caught a 17 yard touchdown pass from Hudgins to cut the Marion lead to 30-18.

After a Patriot fumble was recovered at the Marion 38-yard line, Benton had an opportunity to cut into the Marion lead, but the Patriots defense held at the Patriot 5-yard line and gave the ball back to the offense on downs.

The teams would then trade interceptions.

Nicholas Wayson picked off two passes on consecutive Marion possessions.

But Marion’s Slade Webb and Markel Winn would return the favor intercepting Hudgins twice inside the Patriot 25-yard line.

Following the second Hudgins interception, Marion ran out the clock to seal the win.

Marion’s defense played well as 5 of Benton’s 9 possessions began in Patriot territory. Brandon Calvert, Tommy Wallace, Dylan Chaple, James Henderson, and Slade Webb; led an outstanding effort for the defense. The defensive lineman got penetration and kept pressure on the Panther quarterback all night long. The defense recorded 5 sacks and 2 interceptions and held the Benton offense to just 24 yards rushing and 123 yards passing for a total of 147 yards.

The offense showed their big play ability scoring on plays of 76,56, 73, and 24 yards. They will have to fix their turnover problem to continue winning as they had 4 interceptions and lost 1 fumble – all on the Marion side of the 50.

The Patriots had scoring drives of 76, 65, 73, 97, and 70 yards.

Marion finished the game with 352 total yards. Anthony Price finished with 134 rushing yards, and Kentrail Jones finished with 89 yards rushing. Slade Webb finished with 91, Dylan Chapple finished with 12, and Markel Winn finished had 34 yards receiving in a balanced Marion attack. Several other Patriots contributed heavily to the win.

Thursday night the Junior Patriots will take on the Wynne Junior Yellow Jackets in Marion at 7:00 p.m.

By The Evening Times Sports Staff