MAYFIELD – The 2016 football season for the Marshall County Marshals started 45 minutes late due to lightning delays, which was the beginning of a very long night for Marshall County and Mayfield players and fans. A game that started on August 26th and ended August 27th at 12:24 AM after the weather inserted itself into the ballgame again at halftime when a storm blew in that delayed the second half 2 hours and 25 minutes.
In the 28th and final game scheduled in the series between the Marshals and Cardinals in the foreseeable future, playing for the first time in 1975, the series stopped in 1983, then picked back up in 1995 playing every year since. Mayfield leads the all-time series 24-4 with their 48-7 win Friday.
After the opening kick return by Austin Riley to Mayfield’s 48 yard line, the Marshals were forced to punt on their first series then held the Cardinals with a nice defensive stand to get the ball back and start from their own 30 yard line, taking the ball downfield nearly 40 yards before an incomplete pass on 4th and 11 turned the ball back over to Mayfield on the 31.
The Marshals would recover a Mayfield fumble, but the ball was ruled down by the whistle and it remained with the Cardinals who picked up their first touchdown of the game on a 24 yard run by Trajon Bright to lead the Marshals 7-0 with 1:23 left in the 1st quarter.
Quarterback Landon Arnett completed a pass to Anton Lumson in Mayfield’s first series of the 2nd quarter down to the four yard line, losing seven yards on the following play when Mason Green dropped the QB for a loss. On 3rd and 6, Kent Trey Matthews caught a six yard touchdown pass that put the Cardinals up 14-0.
Three minutes later, Arnett would connect with Lumson on another pass that set up a 50 yard touchdown pass to Jack Murrell to go up 21-0. Their final first half score came following a nice punt return by Kyle Hurt and 11 yard touchdown run by Shauntrez Tyler with 4:37 remaining in the half to lead 28-0.
Riley picked off an Arnett pass near the end of the first half but the Marshals were unable to capitalize on it.
The teams waited out the storm and lightning strikes for the next 2 hours and 25 minutes, then took the field at 11:25 for the second half kick off.
“While we were waiting in the locker room on the rain, we said we are going to finish what we started”, Marshals Head Coach Evan Merrick said. “They weren’t wanting to go home or come back Saturday. They were going to stay and wait as long as they needed to which is a testament to the kids and the commitment they put in, in the off-season and putting this program where we want it to be.”
Merrick said their second half plan was to re-establish what they were tying to do and give the players something to build on next week and the weeks going forward.
Mayfield struck quickly in the 3rd quarter, scoring on a 55 yard run by Bright, missing the point after attempt for a 34-0 lead. The quarter was highlighted by a Mayfield fumble recovery by Grant Utley which led to the Marshals only touchdown of the game, an 18 yard scoring drive that resulted in a two yard TD run by Dalton Nelson.
Riley picked off an Arnett pass for the second time in the game near the end of the 3rd quarter but the Marshals drive would end, turning the ball over on downs.
The 2015 2A State Champions found the end zone two more times in the 4th quarter for a 48-7 win for the 5th nationally ranked Cardinals for most all-time wins.
“We did some good things against a proven team and we knew going in, this is how you get better, play this type of competition”, Merrick said. “There’s a lot of bright spots ahead in the season for us.”
The Marshals will play their next four games at home, starting Friday with the Hall of Fame game against Ballard Memorial, and Coach Merrick feels all are favorable matchups for his team.
Total Yards
Marshall: 203 (158 rushing, 45 passing)
Mayfield: 423 (230 rushing, 193 passing)
Rushing Leaders
Marshall: Green 22/72, Nelson 16/52, Riley 10/28
Mayfield: Bright 11/112, Tyler 14/92, Arnett 3/26
Passing
Marshall: Smith 2/24, 45 yards, 1 int.
Mayfield: Arnett 8/16, 193 yards, 3 TDs, 2 int.
Receiving
Marshall: Utley 1/32, Forsythe 1/16
First Downs
Marshall: 13
Mayfield: 12
Penalties
Marshall: 12/76
Mayfield 9/80
