Thursday, September 20, 2012
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Thursday, September 20, 2012 |
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Community | Obits | Editorial & Columnists | Society | Sports | Education | Classified Ads | Calendar of Events | Features | Newsbriefs | Legals | Archives | Subscriptions | New Photo Gallery |
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Patriots start district play with win By BARRY BURLESON
The most important stretch of the season is here for the Marshall Academy Patriots. They opened their District 1-AA slate with a 40-7 shellacking of winless Carroll Academy Friday night in Carrollton. “We took care of business, and I’m very pleased with that,” coach Bart Jenkins said. It was MA’s second straight road trip. A third, and the most important, awaits this Friday night when they visit Indianola Academy for a district war. “It’s a grind – three straight weeks on the road – but no doubt, we have a tough bunch of kids,” Jenkins said. “I believe the bigger the game, the better they will play.” The Patriots made quick work of the Rebels last week – going up 34-0 at halftime. Aaron McAlexander got the point production rolling when he returned a punt 82 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. The extra-point kick was no good. Later in the first, McAlexander reeled in a 65-yard scoring reception from quarterback Dakota Dailey. Von Watson caught a pass for the two-point conversion. Marshall then cashed in a drive early in the second quarter. Dailey and Zack Pritchett had runs of 20 and 14 yards before Devin McGreger scored on a 13-yard carry. Roy Billions’ kick was good. It was 21-0. It was the Dailey to McAlexander connection again with 9:58 left before the break. This time the touchdown play covered 91 yards. Billions kicked the extra point.
Late in the second period, Marshall’s Randy Love recovered a fumble, giving the offense the ball at its own 31. McGreger’s 16-yard run was the big play, and the Pats also benefited from a personal foul flag on Carroll. Pritchett scored from 3 yards out. The point-after try was blocked. “I thought we were very, very productive in the first half,” Jenkins said. “We executed well.” Carroll tried to take advantage of a personal foul penalty on Marshall early in the third. Antonio Love’s quarterback sack ended the try for points. But after MA lost a fumble, the Rebels did get on the scoreboard. Justin Farris ran 29 yards for six, and Jake Streeter kicked the extra point. It was 34-7. Marshall’s last touchdown came after Matt Rappa stripped the ball from a Carroll ball-carrier and Vince Hoyt recovered. Pritchett then ran the ball four straight times – the latter covering 3 yards for a touchdown. The kick failed. The Patriots rolled to 409 total yards offense - 201 passing and 208 rushing. Dailey was six of 12 through the air. McGreger was the leading rusher with six carries for 69 yards. McAlexander caught three passes for 175 yards. The MA defense held Carroll to 216 total yards – 35 passing and 181 rushing. Rappa led with 16 tackles. A. Love had 13 tackles and two sacks. Hunter Barringer and Watson had 14 tackles each and Pritchett 10. McAlexander had eight tackles and an interception and Colt Lindsey seven tackles and a sack. Marshall was flagged 14 times for 135 yards. Jenkins said some of the penalties were justified – “teammates defending teammates.” “One of the areas where we were deficient was not coming together as a team,” he said. “Maybe this will help in that regard.” But he also said the Pats (4-1 overall) must “clean up some penalties” to have success the rest of the way. “This week (at Indianola) would be a good week for everything to come together,” Jenkins said. “We have yet to play our best – but we’re getting closer and closer.” |
    
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