Sizzling scrimmage start

Sizzling scrimmage start

Pats post big plays, toss pair of shutouts in benefit

Sports Editor GOSNELL — A bushel of big plays and a stifling defensive effort highlighted Marion’s preseason benefit scrimmage here last night against Paragould and Gosnell.

The Patriots (5-7 overall in 2015) played one 30minute half of football against the Rams and Pirates each, and claimed wins of 28-0 and 34-0, respectively.

In the opener, Marion got a pair of touchdowns from senior wide receiver Collin Chambers, as well as a 64yard scoring run from senior running back Tom Young. Cody McCullough added the final touchdown, hitting paydirt from 17 yards out.

Against the hosts in the nightcap, Marion’s offense bogged down at times, but got three defensive touchdowns and another tally from Chambers to notch the 34-0 win.

Despite some of those gaudy numbers, third-year Marion head coach Jed Davis was realistic about his team’s goals and their performance.

“I was pleased with the fact that we came out, took care of business and didn’t give up any points,” Davis explained. “The coach in me says too many dropped balls, we fumbled some balls. We looked very sloppy at times, and that’s just stuff that we can’t do, you know? We did just enough bad that I can in tomorrow and chew on ‘em a little bit,” he added with a smile.

It took Marion three plays to dent the scoreboard in the first half against Paragould.

On first and 10 from the Paragould 48, junior quarterback Jacob Green hit an open Chambers on a post route that gave the Pats a 7-0 lead with 28:59 flashing on the clock.

Chambers found paydirt again on the next Marion drive when junior quarterback Peyton Walker hit him on what appeared to be a comeback route and the slippery Chambers made at least four wouldbe Paragould tacklers miss en route to the paint with a 64-yard catch-and-run and a 14-0 Marion advantage.

The lead hit 21-0 when Young took a hand-off and raced 64 yards for a touchdown.

Marion tallied its last score of the Paragould game when McCullough got headed downhill to cross from 17 yards out.

While the offense looked explosive, Marion’s defense surrendered a single first down to the Rams, and that fresh set of downs came on Paragould’s first drive. Marion ended the half by forcing five consecutive three-and-outs.

“Without watching film yet, I’d give the defense about a B,” Davis says. “I was really pleased with our first group and real happy with the effort. We have to clean up some of our alignments, we had some linebackers out of position on some things, and that’s our base stuff, so I’d like to see us clean that up.”

Marion turned around immediately following the conclusion of the Paragould half and faced Gosnell.

Each team came up empty on their initial drives, but Marion broke through first when Kias Knox picked up a loose ball and raced 11 yards for a 7-0 lead.

That advantage pushed on to 14-0 when Walker hooked up with Chambers again for a 37-yard touchdown throw with 17:12 left in the half.

Three plays later, senior safety Kuriston Hill came up with a scoop-and-score of his own, this one from 37 yards out and was good for a 21-0 lead.

Green found Ryan Robins with a short pass that led to Robins zigging and zagging through the Pirate defense and he romped 52 yards for a score.

“I felt like we can throw it deep and score, if we execute,” said Davis. “I was surprised with the times that we were able to throw short and come up with a big play. That was a nice surprise for us.”

The last Marion score came on a Demont Chalmers score, as the defensive lineman matched his uniform number by scoring from 61 yards out.

“A few of the scoop-andscores weren’t something that we caused – they were on the center-quarterback exchange; but that is something that Coach (Justin) Smith works on with his guys, and taking care of business, and they did that, so hats off to them for that,” Davis said of his team’s defense.

The outing in Gosnell obviously won’t show up in Marion’s won-loss record, but the next time they take the field will.

The Pats open their 2016 regular season on the road against the Wynne Yellowjackets on Friday, September 2 at 7 p.m.

By Chuck Livingston