Marion offensive line becomes center of attention

Marion offensive line becomes center of attention

Position changes and injuries part of story prior to Blytheville game

Sports Editor In the preseason, Marion’s offensive line was a bit of a question mark after losing four all-conference linemen off last year’s team.

The Pats returned left tackle Dathen Miller, and had plenty of talented, yet unproven, players left on the roster.

Then the Pats lost their top two centers in practice the week of the Wynne season opener, and then before the home opener against Jackson, Missouri last week.

“When you lose four starters like you do, that’s already gonna be tough,” said third-year Marion head coach Jed Davis.

“Then, the Wednesday before Wynne, Wes Barrett, who’s going to be our starting center, he goes down. That’s a guy that we like, he took all the snaps for us over the summer, and also through preseason practice. On top of that, our center makes all of our calls for the line.”

Antonio Hampton drew the start against the Yellowjackets in the opener at center, but Wynne’s fine defensive line was up to the task in the 42-17 victory.

Just as Hampton was getting his feet wet, he went down last Tuesday in preparation for the Indians, which didn’t just force Javier Soto into action, but also into a position change, from guard.

“Javier was up for it, and he played so well that I had to tell him after the game that he was sensational,” Davis said.

Injuries aside, Davis thought the reason for his team’s offensive line evolution was pretty clear.

“Week 1 was their first week to play together,” said the coach. “If you look, that’s always the position that takes the longest to gel. In the preseason, you get team’s base looks at team camps and scrimmages, so they do get work on that end, but it’s not like getting looks on Friday night.

They aren’t seeing another defensive coordinator’s blitz packages, or stunts up front and all that other type of stuff. So I think that they were just a little shellshocked against Wynne.”

Marion’s new-look offensive line of Miller, Jackson English, Soto, Phillip Marconi and Braden Grove will look to continue to improve this Friday when the Pats trek to Blytheville for the final non-conference game against the Chickasaws.

It’s the third year in a row that Marion has played Blytheville, losing 41-0 in 2014 before stealing a dramatic 43-40 win at Patriot Stadium last fall.

The results may have changed over the past few seasons, but Davis says that the team will still be potent.

“Last year, their middle linebacker was the guy. I mean, he made a ton of plays for them,” says the coach. “He ran their whole defense. He was really hard for us to block. They don’t have that guy this year, but man, they’re still so athletic.”

Blytheville will enter play on Friday at 1-1 after beating Osceola in the opener and losing to West Memphis 35-25 last week at home.

It was a single play in that West Memphis game that shows how athletic Blytheville remains.

“West Memphis’s quarterback pulls it and goes to throw a vertical route down the field,” Davis explains. “One of their outside linebackers had bitten up on the run, and he recognizes it, drops back and knocks the pass down. I mean, it was impressive to see. On film, I’m thinking like they’re thinking, that this is a big play, maybe a touchdown, and this guy reverses the field and makes a play.”

Kickoff in Blytheville is scheduled for Friday night at 7 p.m. The game can also be heard on the radio at 92.5 FM KWYNN and the contest will be preceded by the coaches show at 6:30.

By Chuck Livingston