MA finishes as state runner-up
The Marshall Academy Patriots erased a two-touchdown deficit in the state championship game and grabbed the lead, but things did not go their way in the last five minutes.
Adams County Christian School tied the game on a two-point conversion that went to replay review and a couple of minutes later added the game-winning touchdown with 28 seconds remaining. The 28-22 loss in Jackson was a tough one to swallow for interim head coach Bart Jenkins and his Patriots.
“Our kids played extremely hard,” he said. “We had opportunities to win, but the ball didn’t bounce our way this time.”
It was a Class 3A Division II title game of contrasting offensive styles, an explosive Marshall team versus a methodical ACCS squad. Time of possession was 33:32 to 14:28 in favor of the Rebels.
“We knew they wanted to hold the ball and run clock, and they did a good job of it,” Jenkins said. “But I thought we played physical against a very physical football team.”
Adams County got a first-quarter score and another in the second to go up 14-0.
MA failed to convert a couple of fourth-and-short tries in the first half, one on the game’s opening drive at the Rebels’ 37yard line. Another scoring threat was nullified by the first replay review of the afternoon. An 83-yard pass connection reached the ACCS 2, but the ruling was a fumble at the end of the play recovered by the Rebels.
The Patriots did manage to get on the scoreboard with 1:51 left in the first half. Conner Floyd threw to Savion McGhee, who broke loose along the sideline for an 89yard touchdown. The try-fortwo failed.
“We should have gone into the locker room at halftime with the lead, but instead we were down a score,” Jenkins said.
The clock-consuming Rebels kept the ball for all but 38 seconds of the third quarter yet couldn’t cash in the possession. A fourth-and-eight pass attempt was broken up by McGhee.
Marshall struck quickly to keep its sudden momentum going. A scrambling Floyd found an all-alone Devin Snow, who cruised to the end zone to complete the 73-yard play. Ashton Franklin went in standing for a two-pointer that tied the game at 14 with 21 seconds to go in the third.
A gutsy Patriot defense forced its first three-and-out of the contest, and the offense used 12 consecutive rushing plays to take an eight-point lead. The touchdown, with 5:20 left in the game, came on Franklin’s 5-yard carry. Floyd kept for the two.
ACCS answered with a 73yard drive for a 5-yard touchdown. The two-point try to follow, with a Rebel ball-carrier being hit and falling toward the goal-line, went to replay review after being called successful on the field.
It was upheld. The barnburner was tied at 22 with 2:31 left.
“There were a lot of moments like that,” Jenkins said, “and that’s the way it usually is in a state championship game.”
Marshall drove into Adams County territory but turned the ball over with 1:15 remaining. The Rebels managed to get game-winning score on a 36-yard pass play over the middle of the field.
Total yards in the title game were 414 for ACCS, with 373 coming on the ground, and 413 for MA, with 298 through the air. The Rebels ran 69 plays to the Patriots’ 36.
Tyler Wright had 15 tackles to lead the Marshall defensive effort. Jase Akins and Dom Green had 11 each. Brennan Smith and Jayden Walker had interceptions.
The Patriots ended the season with a 10-3 record.
“Our kids faced some tough circumstances in the playoffs and played with a whole lot of heart,” Coach Jenkins said. “They have nothing to hang their heads about. I am proud of them.”