Patriots score 50 in win over Lee Colts

A sea of flags did not sink Marshall Academy Friday night. Instead, the Patriots stayed afloat and won by 20.

“We were resilient,” head coach Chris Bunio said. “I like the way we responded to adversity. At the same time, we have to be more disciplined.”

MA was flagged 16 times, half of those coming in the first quarter, in a 50-30 victory over Lee Academy.

“We started slow, but we played football the rest of the way,” he said.

The star of the show, who continuously shifted the momentum in favor of the home squad, was Devin Snow. He caught seven passes for 260 yards, an average of 37 yards per reception. Three resulted in touchdowns. Snow also had two interceptions, one of those returned for a score.

The first half was a back-and-fourth affair with MA trailing 24-22 at intermission. Patriot points came on Savion McGhee’s 38-yard run, a 48-yard middle screen pass from Conner Floyd to Snow, and Ashton Franklin’s 15-yard carry. Tyler Wright cashed in a two-point conversion, and a toss from Floyd to K.J. Luse added two more.

The Patriots outscored the Colts 28-8 in the second half.

With 4:54 left in the third, Floyd threw short to Snow, who got loose for a 44-yard touchdown. Marshall closed the third with another Floyd to Snow scoring connection, this one covering 53 yards. The lead was 34-24.

Getting MA’s last two touchdowns of the game were Wright on a 12-yard burst and Snow on a 52-yard pick-six. Two-point conversions came from Floyd and Franklin.

“It was a tough win, and a fun win,” Coach Bunio said about the long, almost three-hour game.

The Patriots (2-1) travel to Winona Christian School this Friday night. The Stars are 3-1, coming off a 35-7 loss to Leake Academy. Their wins have come over Regents, Indianola Academy and Clinton Christian Academy.