MA routs Lee on homecoming
Marshall Academy scored touchdowns in four different ways Friday.
On a happy homecoming night, the Patriots’ scores came via the run, pass, punt return and interception in a 487 wipeout of District 1-4A rival Lee Academy.
“We try to take advantage of what the defense gives us,” coach Tony Banks said. “They took away the runs up the middle so we went outside.
“We’ve worked hard on throwing the football, and we continue to get better there.” He said quarterback Landon Houston is “growing up” and making the right reads, and the receivers are making the catches. Plus, the offensive line is protecting the passer well, Banks said.
Houston was six of nine through the air for 131 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
A 78-yard connection from Houston to Hayes Henry got the Patriots on the scoreboard with 4:34 left in the opening quarter. Henry caught the ball over the middle and raced away from several defenders to the end zone. Houston kicked the extra point. He drilled six of seven on the night.
Will Merrell sacked the quarterback for a 7-yard loss and forced a Lee punt. Rusty Bolden returned it 39 yards for a touchdown with 2:16 to go in the first.
Vincent Wang recovered a fumble in Colts’ territory midway through the second quarter. On first down, Jimmy Morales carried around the left side, picked up a pancake block from teammate Jack Smith and reached the end zone from 37 yards out. It was 21-0.
Bolden picked off a pass and returned it 37 yards to the Lee 6. After a delay of game penalty, Houston scrambled and tossed to Nic Henry for an 11-yard score.
A minute later, the Patriot defense forced a Lee turnover. Bolden intercepted a pass and returned it 32 yards for a touchdown. The lead was 35-0 at halftime.
Four of eight Lee possessions in the first half resulted in negative yards. The others netted just 1, 8, 6 and 15 yards.
“Our defense is making it really hard on folks,” Banks said. “We’re playing lights out. They know how to play their positions. We’re getting six or seven guys to the football.”
Due to the wide margin, the second half was played with a continuous running clock.
Ethan Helton intercepted a pass on Lee’s first possession of the third quarter. Bolden ran for a first down; Houston threw to Morales for another and then Wang scored on a 2yard run. Marshall was up 410 with 3:12 left in the period.
The Patriots substituted freely on defense, and the Colts drove 60 yards for their only touchdown of the night. William Walker found Bryan Ray in the back of the end zone for a 10-yard score on a fourth-and-seven play. Gage Coats added the extra point.
Colton Neal returned the ensuing kickoff 33 yards to the Lee 42. Three plays later, Wang got his second touchdown of the night, this one on an 18-yard carry. Houston’s kick put the 48-7 final on the board.
“Great job,” Banks told his team at midfield after the game. “We did a better job of eliminating mistakes, and now we just have to go back to work and keep improving.”
Marshall upped its overall record to 5-1, the only loss being a forfeit to Bayou Academy due to COVID-19. The Pats are 2-0 in the district race.
“This puts us in a good position as far as the district goes,” Banks said. “We just have to take it one game at a time.”
Next up is a non-district game at home this Friday versus Winona Christian. It will be Senior Night. The Stars are 2-4, coming off a 56-28 win over Delta Streets Academy last week.