Just for kicks

Just for kicks

Marion kicker has been reliable as Blue Devils invade

Sports Editor It was just like any other tackle on any other kickoff of your average high school football game.

Jackson, Missouri’s kick returner had evaded the first line of Marion’s defense back on Friday, September 9 at Patriot Stadium, and looked like he may sail across the 50-yard line and into the opposition’s territory.

Until Marion senior Bradford Doherty squared him up and planted him into the turf to end the threat of a longer return.

So why was it such a noteworthy moment?

Doherty is Marion’s kicker.

“He wants to be the first guy down on kickoffs,” said Marion third-year head coach Jed Davis with a laugh.

Doherty has already left his mark on Marion’s 2016 season by making all four of his field goal attempts through three games, including a 45-yard boot in that game against Jackson that is a Marion school record.

“He’s really changed the way that I’ve coached so far this year, to be honest with you,” says Davis. “I’ve never had a guy that can kick it like he can in the past. I used to always go for it on fourth down, especially inside the other team’s territory. Well now, my thought process has changed a little bit. As a coach, it allows us to be a little more aggressive around the 25 or 30-yard line. That’s because he’s been so effective and consistent for us.” Doherty isn’t just a placekicker for Marion, however. He also handles kickoffs and punts, and his strong leg has given the Pats precious yards of field position through three weeks.

“I used to always onside kick, I never even thought about it,” says Davis. “But now that we have a guy that can kick it through the end zone and have them start off at the 20, hey, that’s what I’m all about. It helps our defense knowing that they might make a mistake before we do, and that’s been key.”

Having a reliable kicker can be key, especially when conference play ramps up and games tend to be closer as the fall wears on.

That’ll be the setting on Friday night when Marion (1-2 overall) opens its league schedule at Patriot Stadium against the West Memphis Blue Devils (2-1) at 7 p.m.

After a four-year stretch where Marion and West Memphis were conference rivals that didn’t actually share the same conference, starting this fall, that’s changed as both schools are members of the Class 6AEast and will be competing for the same conference title, and could even meet in the state playoffs, or even for a state title.

From 2012-2015, West Memphis and Marion were in the 7A/6A-East, but the Blue Devils competed in the Class 7A playoffs, and the Pats in the Class 6A bracket.

“We look at it as trying to get a home playoff game, starting on Friday night,” says Davis. “You look at it and the top two seeds, they get a bye and play the quarterfinals at home. Then the third and fourth teams play at home in the first round. Having a playoff game at home, at Patriot Stadium in front of our fans and our community, that’s what it’s all about.”

The game against West Memphis will be a solid test for Marion.

“Their quarterback (most likely junior passer Amaurius Stinnett) is a guy that can beat you with his legs and his arm. Their back ( Devonte Dean) is really tough. He’s a guy where if you miss a tackle or two, he’s taking it to the house,” said Davis. “They want to beat you with the run game. I think last year, they ran it more than 80% of the time, and this year it’s over 70% of the time. It’s just what they do.”

West Memphis played three passers in a 17-12 loss against Little Rock Central last week as Stinnett wasn’t 100% physically and came out of the game. Michael Troxler and David Kohl also played quarterback, though the latter did so for just one series.

Defensively, Davis said that he has a good idea of what to expect from the Blue Devils, but that doesn’t mean that it’ll be any easier to execute against.

“They really feel like they can get pressure with their front four, and they’re young, but they’re really good,” Davis says. “They’re not a big blitzing team. I don’t know that (West Memphis head coach) Billy (Elmore) has ever done a whole lot of blitzing. He likes to play his base 4-3 and just get after you. That’s mainly what we’ve seen the past two years, and we haven’t seen anything different on film to suggest otherwise.”

Tickets are on sale at the Marion and West Memphis School District central offices, and cost $5.

The contest can also be heard on the radio by tuning into 102.3 FM for the West Memphis broadcast, or 92.5 FM for the Marion show.

By Chuck Livingston