Hall on call for the Pats

Hall on call for the Pats

Patriot defensive line a fluid, but effective, unit in 2016

Sports Editor More than any other position on the 2016 Marion Patriots, the defensive line has been among the most fluid.

For starters, no Marion full-timer from the 2015 season returned to the current roster as seniors Jerry Boatman and Jonathan Yankaway graduated and Peyton Walker moved to linebacker before taking over as the team’s starting quarterback in time for week 2.

In their stead is a group of smaller, quicker linemen, which is a far cry from the traditional idea of a defensive lineman. “We lost some meat up front, and we’re a little more undersized this year, with the exception of Zekele Hardaway,” said third-year Marion head coach Jed Davis. “But, we feel like we’re quicker than in the past too. We’re also pretty strong up front too. I mean, pound-for-pound, those guys are strong. That’s what we like more than anything else.”

Marion has gotten contributions from junior Cam Knighten, Kias Knox, Demont Chalmers, Hardaway, Andre Coleman, Josh Green and Justin Gist on the line this fall, and all have brought something different to the table.

“Cam is probably our most sound all-around defensive lineman. Kias didn’t play last year, so he’s like a sophomore as far as experience, but he uses his size and quickness to his advantage. Zekele is a plugger up front at nose guard, which he does fine. He’ll be even better if he can play a little lower up front. Andrew is in his first year here at Marion. Josh Green is a sophomore and has given us a lift,” Davis says of his array of guys that play up front. “Demont Chalmers may not start every Friday, but he gets a ton of playing time for us. Gist was a linebacker, but he slide down for us. Justin hasn’t learned everything that he needs to know at that spot, but he’s working hard.”

Knox, Gist and Chalmers are the three newest members of the Marion defensive line rotation, and their stories are interesting in the way that they didn’t start off at that position.

Chalmers, affectionately known as “Truth” to his teammates and friends, had aspirations to be a linebacker for the Pats this fall, while Knox was a junior high running back as of two years ago. Gist was a linebacker as recently as the preseason, but volunteered to switch positions.

However, with dwindling depth up front, and those other positions stocked with players, those three made a change.

“They looked at themselves and said ‘This deal may not be best for me, but it’s best for the team,’” said Davis. “In society today, it tends to be about me. Team sports is one of the last arenas that asks people to put the greater good above themselves. You want statistics, you want to play certain positions. Luckily for us, we have some guys on our team that were willing to sacrifice for the greater good, and wholeheartedly bought in.”

Marion’s defensive line will be on display this Friday night when they host Little Rock Hall at Patriot Stadium.

The Warriors enter that game with a mark of 2-2 overall, and 0-1 in the league after a 52-6 loss to defending Class 6A state champion Pine Bluff last week.

Despite Hall’s tradition or lack thereof – as a football power, Davis thinks that his team will have the right mindset when they hit the turf Friday night.

“Our guys totally understand the situation. Our goals are still in front of us. Everything we want to accomplish is in play,” says the coach. “We can still get a bye, we can still get home playoff games. All of those things are still up for grabs, but it starts on Friday night.”

Hall posted its first win since 2011 in a 28-0 win against Little Rock Fair on September 2. That ended a run of 44 consecutive games without a win, broken only by a 6-6 tie with North Pulaski in 2014.

“You’ve got some athletes over there. Defensively, they’ve got guys flying around. Offensively, they have guys that can make you miss, so our challenge will be playing sound, fundamental football,” Davis says.

Kickoff at Patriot Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m. and can be heard on 92.5 FM. The coaches show will begin at 6:30.

By Chuck Livingston