Patriots fall short versus Wave

Marshall Academy squandered an 11-point first-half lead but still had its chances late Friday night against North Delta School.

“We have to find a way to finish and quit making mistakes that cost us,” head coach Jake Hill said after his Patriots lost 3825 to the Green Wave on homecoming night.

Marshall Academy took a 17-6 lead on Noah Olguin’s 34-yard field goal with 5:36 left in the second quarter. North Delta answered with 22 straight points to claim a 28-17 lead at the 5:23 mark of the third.

The Patriots did not fold. They pulled within three early in the fourth quarter and made a goalline stand on the Green Wave’s next possession. However, North Delta recorded a safety to dampen the Patriots’ momentum and added a touchdown with 1:49 remaining.

“Our guys fought,” Hill said. “I’m proud of them. It was a very physical football game.” North Delta leaned on its ground game all night, led by running back Glentrell Reese.

“He was a load in the backfield,” Hill said, “and there were times we just couldn’t hang on.”

The Patriots scored on their opening drive on a 69-yard halfback pass from Gage Todd to Brayden Thompson. Todd added a 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Olguin kicked both extra points.

Todd moved to quarterback late in the third quarter and scored Marshall’s final touchdown of the night on a 3-yard keeper with 11:56 remaining. He also ran in the 2-point conversion.

“Gage is a warrior,” Hill said. “We lost some guys, and he put the team on his back and played his tail off.

“Unfortunately, we had a lot of plays we didn’t make, plus turnovers and penalties. We have to find a way to get better.”

The Patriots (1-5) host Greenville St. Joseph (4-2) on Friday night.