DRAFFENVILLE – “This is what it’s about”, Marshals Head Coach Evan Merrick said following the Marshals 42-3 win over Murray, winning their third straight game, the first three game win streak since the 2010 season.
“To have it all come together the way it did is very exciting”, Merrick said. “These three weeks have been huge for us and what we talked about in the post game huddle is, we are right where we want to be in our season. Going towards districts 3-1, that’s a good spot to be in.”
The Marshals racked up 451 yards of total offense in what Coach Merrick called, “a total team effort”. Rushing for 291 yards, they were led once again by Mason Green who had just over a 200 yard night and two touchdowns that began on the Marshals first offensive series when Green ran 54 yards to the end zone.
With 32 seconds left in the first quarter, the Marshals scored touchdown number two on a 23 yard pass from Skyler Smith to Tristen Prange that was preceded by nice runs by Green and Dalton Nelson, the offensive line opening up room for the duo to run. The Marshals went for the 2-point conversion after their first point after attempt was blocked, grabbing a 14-0 lead on a run by Green.
The Marshall defense forced another Murray punt which led to their next touchdown that began on some nice pick ups by Green, reception by Lucas Forsythe and finally a Smith to Prange 24 yard touchdown pass and extra point attempt by Daniel Gardner to go up 21-0 with 9:05 remaining in the second quarter.
Murray’s Jayden Jackson ran the ensuing kick 47 yards to put the Tigers in nice field position. Michael Parks gained another 25 yards and Jordan Boyd dodged tacklers to get Murray down to the seven yard line. On their next play, the ball popped out and into the hands of Riley who takes it the other way to the Marshals 37 yard line.
Not able to make anything out of the turnover, the Marshals were forced to punt, but got the ball back again with 3:22 left in the half. A holding penalty set them back but Green got the yards back on a pick up of 22 but the series ended when Smith was charged with a fumble after being hit setting up for a pass.
Time ran out on Murray and Hunter Utley when the quarterback was sacked by Dawson Martin to end the first half.
Out of the gate in the second half, the Marshals began from their own 28, a complete pass to Utley put them at the 40, Green carried the ball across midfield and then took it on the next handoff 49 yards to the end zone and a 28-0 Marshall lead.
Murray began their next drive from their 35 yard line then moved the ball way down the field following a double penalty on the Marshals, to the eight yard line. Parks was stopped at the one yard line and on 4th and goal, the Marshals defense held, getting the ball back on downs.
Starting from the one, the Marshals went 99 yards highlighted by an 84 yard pass from Smith to Forsythe for a touchdown and 35-0 lead following Gardner’s extra point kick with 2:41 left in the third quarter.
Grant Utley ended the third quarter for the Marshals with a 60 yard interception return to put the Marshals up 42-0 with nine second left on the clock.
Murray avoided the shutout on a 32 yard field goal by Matthew D’Elia with 6:48 left in the game and a fourth quarter running clock.
Coach Merrick said the 3-1 start will it help to keep the focus going into the all-important district games that begin next Friday when the Marshals host Christian County.
“We remember what happened there against them last year”, Merrick said “It’s going to be a tough task but I think this puts our kids into the position they need to be in.”
Game Stats
Total Offense: Marshall 451, Murray 245
Rushing Yards: Marshall 291, Murray 165
Marshall: Green 16/207 2 TDs, Nelson 12/66, Bizzle 4/17
Murray: Jackson 13/77, Parks 7/67
Passing Yards: Marshall: Smith 7/12 160 yds (2 TDs), Murray: Utley 7/20 80 yds (1 INT)
Marshall: Forsythe 2/95 (TD), Prange 2/47 (2 TDs), Utley 3/18
Murray: Ward 5/56, Duffy 2/24
