Clash with the Titans

Clash with the Titans

Pats can clinch home playoff game with win

Sports Editor PEARCY — When Marion takes the field against Jacksonville at Patriot Stadium on Friday night, the goal for their 22 seniors will be to make sure that they play at least one more game on that vaunted turf.

Not only would a win against the Titans be the fourth league victory for Marion, which would match its total from 20122015, but it would also assure that the Pats would open its 2016 state playoff run at home.

For head coach Jed Davis, that's been motivation enough for the entire team, but especially so for his upperclassmen.

'This group has been through so much together,' said Davis, whose senior group was sophomores during his first year in Marion in 2014. 'You think back to that first year and we're 1-10 and it's pretty obvious to just about anybody how far we've come. I looked at the roster earlier and 17 of our 22 seniors this year have been with us for three years.

That's special to me, because it would have been pretty easy for kids to maybe throw in the towel or something after that first year and say 'Oh man, same ol' Marion,' but this group didn't do that.'

Despite that 1-10 mark in 2014, Marion rebounded to win 5 games last fall and sits at 4-4 today, with two regular-season dates remaining, and at least one playoff game remaining on its schedule.

When asked what he'd remember about his seniors the most, a few memories came to mind.

'I think of a guy like Trexler Proffitt that had emerged as a starter last year, but got hurt late and missed the rest of the season. Then he was going to be one of our best linemen this year, but got hurt twice and couldn't play. That has to be discouraging for him, but you know what? He hasn't missed one day of practice, hurt or not. Think about Tom Young, when I first got here, they told me he was our starting junior high running back and I told a lot of people 'Man, that guy's not big enough to play for us,' but you look up and three years later and two All-State selections, what do I know, right? Collin Chambers last week makes a crazy catch and ends up on ESPN, Fox Sports and whatever else. That's big time, man. We have Michael McNeeley, 'The Silent Assassin,' who probably hasn't said 10 words in three years, but he leads us in tackles every time out. Di Granger, who just keeps everything so loose in practice every day. Di is all about having fun. I'm just really gonna miss this crew.'

Marion clinched a state playoff berth two weeks ago, and can finish no worse than the number 5 seed from the 6A-East, but by simply beating Jacksonville on Friday night, the Pats will host its first playoff game since 2011, when they hosted and beat Benton 42-33, before losing to the eventual Class 6A state champion El Dorado on the road, 16-15.

Davis was quick to admit that titles in the conference and the state are always the goal for his teams, but a home playoff game would also mark significant progress, as well.

'We all want those things (league and state titles), but you never want to look back and say that your season wasn't a success if the ball doesn't bounce your way, like last week against Pine Bluff (a 44-42 loss),' the coach says. 'So for us here, becoming a team that hosts playoff games is a big deal. We went on the road and beat Lake Hamilton last year, so let's take that next step this year and bring that game home to Patriot Stadium and let our community enjoy that this time. That's what we're excited about.'

Jacksonville enters play on Friday with a mark of 2-6 overall and 1-4 in the 6A-East following a thrilling 32-28 win against Little Rock Hall two weeks ago.

Senior Night festivities will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Patriot Stadium and will honor senior athletes across all sports. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

By Chuck Livingston