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Patriots crush
Rams
• Marshall takes 3-0 mark to Class AAA Lee
By BARRY
BURLESON
Editor
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Photo by Barry Burleson
MA’s Colt Lindsey (4) picks up some yards after a catch Friday night at
home. |
It
takes only two words to sum up Marshall Academy’s third straight win to
start the season – total domination.
MA
gained 464 yards, while limiting Immanuel Christian to just 60. The
result was a 48-0 win for the home team at Patriot field.
“We’re
getting to a point where we’re executing at a higher level,” coach Bart
Jenkins said. “We’ve come a long way in a short period, but there’s
still plenty of room for improvement.”
Two
MA
running backs ran for more than 100 yards each versus the Rams – Devin
McGreger 151 on six carries and Artemus Boyd 121 on nine. The Pats had
336 yards rushing.
Dakota
Dailey was eight-of-11 passing for 128 yards. Aaron McAlexander led the
receivers with three catches for 57 yards.
Two
Patriots had eight tackles each – Matt Rappa and Von Watson. Three
others had seven apiece - Hunter Barringer, Antonio Love and Zack
Pritchett.
“From
a defensive standpoint, we’re playing very good – polished and crisp,”
Jenkins said.
The
coach told his players after the game that he isn’t proud of all the
penalties – 13 for 110 yards.
“We
have to eliminate those by next week,” he said. “We will play a very
good football team (Lee Colts).
He
later called the flags “senseless,” saying many happen on “ridiculous”
blocks behind the play.
“We
have to be much more disciplined,” Jenkins said.
The
Patriots led the Rams 41-0 at the half – scoring two touchdowns in the
first quarter and four in the second.
MA
opened its point production on a 25-yard completion from Dailey to
McGreger, who also kicked the extra point.
Later
in the first, MA drove 63 yards in just four plays. Dailey ran
untouched into the end zone from 17 yards out for more points. The
point-after try failed.
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Photo by Barry Burleson
MA’s Von Watson (36) finds running room with some blocking help from
J.B. Whisenant (78, left) and Jacob Driggers (77, back). |
Marshall
touchdowns in
the second period came on Watson’s 2-yard plunge, Dailey’s 5-yard
keeper, McGreger’s 60-yard burst and McAlexander’s 39-yard reception
from Dailey.
The
latter score of the half was set up by Watson’s interception.
In
the second quarter, MA got a two-point conversion, Dailey’s pass to
Colt Lindsey, and had an extra-point try blocked before Roy Billions
was successful on a pair of kicks.
McGreger
capped the Marshall scoring with 10:20 to go in the third quarter.
After Boyd got loose for a 33-yard gain, McGreger traveled through a
huge hole provided by the offensive line and went 47 yards for six.
Billions added the extra point.
The
second half was played with a running clock.
The
Patriots’ schedule suddenly gets tougher – starting with a ride to
Clarksdale this Friday. Then District 1-AA play begins with road trips
to Carroll (September 14) and Indianola (September 21) and a home date
with North Delta (September 28).
“It’s
time to
polish up,” Jenkins said. “We’re doing some great things, but we have
to play smarter. There will come a day when those mental mistakes could
really hurt us.”
Lee,
a larger Class AAA school, stands 2-1.
“It’s
going to be a big challenge for us,” he said. “When you mention
Clarksdale Lee football, you know they will hit you. We must play a
physical football game.”
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