Marshall County traveled to Graves County on Friday for an important district game between the two rivals. The Marshals were looking to end an 18-game losing streak to the Eagles and even their district record to 2-2, improving their chances for post-season play.
Marshall County held a 7-0 lead at halftime but in a tale of two halves, Graves County scored 37 unanswered points in the second half to win 37-7 and extend their streak to 19 straight wins over the Marshals.
Graves County received the opening kick and soon after faced a punting situation. The snap was high and senior quarterback Kaden Gregory taking on punting duties, tucked it and ran, picking up the first down. A defensive stand by the Marshals on the next series of plays forced the Eagles to turn it over on downs.
Taking over on the eight yard line, the Marshals drive came up short and the punt set the Eagles up with great field position. The drive was short-lived with another big effort by the Marshals defense. On 3rd and 12, Cash Henson picked off Gregory and ran it back 40 yards to the 11.
Going for it on 4th and 6 to start the second quarter, Neyland Jezik was sacked, fumbled and the Eagles came up with it.
Graves County would punt on their possession, giving the Marshals the ball at their own 35. They moved the ball downfield and following a targeting penalty on the Eagles, made it down to the 22. A 10-yard gain by Jezik and gains by Jake Thomasson to the two set up a two-yard touchdown by Thomasson. Tommy Robertson added the extra point and the Marshals were on the board with a 7-0 lead with 2:42 left in the half.
Another great defensive stand by the Marshals forced the Eagles to turn the ball back over. With little time left on the clock and dropped for losses on two straight plays, the Marshals were content to let it tick down and take a 7-0 lead to the locker room.
Marshall County received the second half kick but couldn’t get anything rolling offensively and turned it over on a punt.
Graves County started their drive from the 32, gaining yards on rushes by Lincoln Acree but the Marshals defense would shine again, breaking up a touchdown pass in the endzone then forcing a goal line fumble.
With the line of scrimmage at the one yard line, Thomasson was dropped in the endzone for a Graves County safety which was the start of 37 unanswered points by the Eagles.
Graves County scored on a 7-yard touchdown pass from Gregory to Acree on their next drive that covered 54 yards.
An unsuccessful punt fake by the Marshals set the Eagles up with just 35 yards between the line of scrimmage and the endzone. After a 20-yard touchdown was brought back on a holding penalty to start the fourth quarter, the Eagles went on to score from one yard out on a carry by Brady Rozzell and the lead was 16-7.
Graves County picked off a pass by Jezik on the Marshals end of the field which set up another 1- yard touchdown run by Rozzell and 23-7 Eagles lead.
Marshall County turned it over on downs on their next possession and the Eagles turned it into points. Rozzell from the one for the touchdown for the third time in the half to put Graves County up 30-7.
The Eagles final touchdown of the night came on an interception of Jezik that was returned 66 yards by Drake Ramey.
Next week’s game at Apollo (3-5) is a must-win for Marshall County (3-5) for a chance to make the playoffs. Graves County (6-2) is ranked second in the district with a 3-1 record, tied with Madisonville-North Hopkins.
Marshall 7 0 0 0 – 7
Graves 0 0 9 28 – 37