Marshall cruises past Winona

Senior Night could not have gone much better for the Marshall Academy football team.

The Patriots scored on eight of their nine possessions and steamrolled Winona Christian School 50-0.

“We executed the best we have all year,” head coach Tony Banks said. “I’m proud of the guys. They’re playing with a lot of confidence.

“It was a good night for us. It was Senior Night, and we’ve got a really good group of seniors.” The Patriots set the tone after receiving the opening kickoff. Hayes Henry returned it 27 yards to the Stars’ 48. Quarterback Landon Houston had runs of 18 and 10 yards for first downs and then scored on a 3-yard carry. He also kicked the extra point.

After Winona’s three and out, MA traveled 56 yards in five plays for another score. The big play was a 26-yard pass from Houston to Rusty Bolden. For the touchdown, Houston rolled right and spotted Jimmy Morales, who made the catch and dove to touch the pylon for a 13-yard score. Houston’s extra-point kick was good, making it 14-0.

The two teams then swapped punts, which was MA’s only punt of the night.

Late in the opening quarter, Will Merrell of Marshall swiped the football from a Winona running back and returned it 46 yards to the Stars’ 4-yard line. Colton Neal scored on the offense’s first down play.

Following another Winona three and out, it was Neal again, with his 31-yard dash to the end zone putting the Patriots up 26-0.

A few minutes later, Bolden returned a punt 31 yards to the Stars’ 31. MA had two touchdowns called back due to penalties. Jimmy Morales, who moved to quarterback after an injury to Houston, kept for 22 yards and then Jack Smith found running room and went 16 yards for six points. The lead was 32-0.

At the 3:31 mark of the second quarter, Vincent Wang got in on the scoring act. He sprinted 28 yards up the middle for a touchdown. Neal had a 21-yard run in the 60-yard drive.

Due to the wide margin (380), the non-stop clock ticked the rest of the first half and continued the second half, too.

The Patriots offense scored once in the third quarter and once in the fourth, while the defense pitched the shutout.

Bolden got loose around the right end for a dazzling 90yard touchdown run that included tight-roping the sideline and leaping into the end zone at the end.

Wang got his team’s eighth and final TD of the night, this one an 18-yard run with 5:57 left in the contest. The other big play in the possession was a 29-yard run by Gavin Coleman.

Marshall finished with 394 yards total offense ­ 341 rushing and 53 passing. Bolden had the big carry for 90 yards. Neal ran seven times for 80, and Wang six times for 54.

The Patriots (6-0 overall and 2-0 in District 1-4A) have a pair of all-important district clashes remaining — starting this Friday night in Grenada versus Kirk Academy. A trip to West Point to face Oak Hill Academy follows October 22.

“We have to just focus on the next one (Kirk),” Coach Banks said. “Kirk is a very good football team, and we have to go to their place, where we will know it will be tough. We have to play with a sense of urgency.”

The Kirk Raiders are coming off a 56-13 win last week over Class 4A Washington School. They’re 5-3 overall and 2-1 in the district.