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Jr. high Patriots turn back Tunica  | Courtesy of Tunica Times
Pressure
MA’s Logan Liddy (65) pressures the Tunica quarterback Thursday. |
The
Marshall Academy junior high football team built what looked to be a
comfortable lead Thursday at Tunica but had to survive a late Blue
Devil rally. The Patriots, who were up 20-0 at the half, held on to win the game 28-22. They improved to 2-1 on the season. Quarterback Dakota Dailey, who rushed for 225 yards, had first-quarter touchdown carries of 25, 34 and 34 yards. In the first drive, Tucker Fant made a big catch for 31 yards. Stephen
Elgin’s fumble recovery ignited the next scoring drive. Thomas
Faulkenbery reeled in a pass for the two-point conversion after the
Pats’ second touchdown. Tunica Academy got on the scoreboard in the third quarter, cutting its deficit to 20-8. With
4:43 to go in the final period, Dailey scored his fourth touchdown of
the night, this one on a 51-yard run. He then threw to B.W. Langston
for the two-point conversion. The Devils returned
the ensuing kickoff 50 yards to the MA 20. They scored in three plays
and failed on a try-for-two. It was 28-14 with 4:12 left. They then tried an onside kick, which was recovered by Faulkenbery. But
a couple of minutes later, Tunica picked up a Marshall fumble and
carried it for a touchdown. The home team added the two-point
conversion and got within six points with 2:14 go to. The Devils attempted another onside kick – this one, too, recovered by Faulkenbery. The Patriots were then able to run out the clock. The
MA coaches praised the work of the team’s offensive line – Logan Liddy,
Hunter Tice, Stephen Elgin, Trey Bingle and Jacob Driggers. They also
complimented Colt Lindsey and Faulkenbery, who “stepped up” in the
absence of Devin McGregor and Brian Novarese, who were out due to
injuries. Liddy also had a fumble recovery on defense. The junior high Patriots go to Kirk Academy in Grenada this Thursday for a 7 p.m. kickoff. |
