MA executes well in win

It was a bounce-back week for the Marshall Academy Patriots, and they did it in fine fashion.

After missing a home game in week two of the season due to COVID, MA traveled into Tennessee Friday night and picked up a 34-0 win over Rossville Christian Academy.

Head coach Tony Banks said his team started slowly but that was to be expected with numbers at practices down all week because of the quarantine time.

“We really just had one day of practice where we even had enough to practice,” he said.

Leading 15-0 at halftime, the Patriots put 19 on the board in the second half and put together what Banks called “a complete game.” “It was really a team effort,” he said. “I’m really happy with the way we played. The guys are starting to trust each other and play for each other. It was a team win.”

Rusty Bolden’s 54-yard punt return for six points lit the fire in the first half for the Patriots. Gavin Coleman tallied the two-point conversion.

Marshall went to its hurry-up offense late in the half and produced more points. Landon Houston threw to Bolden for a 26-yard touchdown. Houston kicked the extra point. It was 15-0 at the break.

“We had a couple of drives in the first half where we fumbled the football while trying to get extra yards,” Banks said.

With 3:49 left in the third, Houston scored on a 3-yard quarterback keeper. The point-after try was no good.

The Pats tacked on two fourth-quarter touchdowns — one a 3-yard run by Jack Smith and the other a 10-yard toss from Houston to Colton Neal. Houston added one extrapoint kick.

“In the second half, we reestablished the ground game,” Banks said. “Our kids were carrying out their assignments.”

He said his team went into the game knowing it would be short-handed but also knowing it had to get better.

“We accomplished that, and we got to play some young guys, and those young guys stepped up,” Banks said.

The Patriot defense earned the shutout.

“We played lights-out on defense,” he said. “Our defense always gives us a chance to win.” Coach Banks named Bo Martin the most valuable player for the game.

“All our centers were out because of COVID,” he said. “Bo went from wide receiver to center. He had one bad snap all game. We could not have played without his unselfish attitude. He’s a team player and a team leader.”

The Patriots improved their record to 2-1 on the season. They will next host North Delta School on Friday, Sept. 17.