Barry Burleson/South ReporterMarshall Academy ball carrier Gage Todd (5) looks to turn the corner against Washington School with blocking help from Brennan Smith (7) and Brayden Thompson (4).
Barry Burleson/South ReporterJacob Ramey (3) and Brennan Smith (7) of Marshall Academy close in on a Washington School ball carrier.
Patriots fall short in 64-62 shootout
Marshall Academy and Washington School combined for 126 points Friday on Heath Barnett Field, but the Patriots came up two points short in a 64-62 shootout.
“It was an exciting game,” said Jake Hill, head coach of the Patriots. “Our guys gave an incredible effort. I’m very proud of our kids. They played so hard, and we were down four starters. Everyone responded well. Washington is a very, very good football team.”
The game remained tight throughout a 21-21 first half. Marshall scored on a trick play when Zane Hill threw behind the line of scrimmage to Gage Todd, who then hit Brayden Thompson for a 46-yard touchdown. Zane Hill also connected with Thompson for a 57-yard score, and Todd added a 1-yard touchdown plunge.
The Generals stretched their lead to as many as 15 points in the second half before the Patriots rallied.
“We fought back just to have the opportunity to win the football game,” Hill said. “We showed a lot of heart.”
Zane Hill scored on second-half runs of 11 and 3 yards while also tossing touchdown passes to Brennan Smith (49 yards), Todd (29 yards), and Thompson (34 yards). Smith supplied another score on a 68-yard kickoff return. Kicker Noah Olguin finished 8-for-8 on extra points, but a failed two-point conversion attempt kept Marshall behind.
“We had a field goal blocked on our first possession, and then in the second half we had the snap over the punter’s head for a safety,” Hill said. “That’s five points right there. And we had a chance for a couple of interceptions late in the game.”
The contest served as Marshall’s District 1-3A opener, dropping the Patriots to 2-7 overall. They conclude the regular season
with two consecutive district road games, traveling to West Memphis Christian School on Friday and Rossville Academy on Oct. 30.
“Win our next two, and I think we get in the playoffs,” Hill said. “Then it’s win or go home, and anything can happen. We want to build on the fight and heart we showed Friday night, get in the playoffs and make a run.”