Marshall County and Calloway County played for the 34th time Friday, and over time since their first game in 1979, the Marshals have won 26 of them. Last years 33-0 loss to Calloway broke a string of six straight wins by the Marshals and Friday once again went to the Lakers at Jack D. Rose Stadium. The 41-20 win gave them back-to-back victories over the Marshals for the first time since the 2003-2005 seasons when they won three straight.
The Marshals only lead of the game came at 10-7 early in the second quarter on a 37 yard field goal by Logan Parker after tying the game at 7-7 late in the first quarter on a five yard touchdown run by Landon Utley.
The Lakers grabbed the lead back on a 10 yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Kanyon Franklin to go up 14-10.
Starting at their own 20 yard line on their next drive, Utley took the ball 45 yards down to the Calloway 35 and a keeper by quarterback Quinn Smith picked up another 10. Calloway jumped on a fumble, the first of five turnovers by the Marshals, and they scored on a 44 yard run by Timarian Bledsoe to lead 21-10.
On the Marshals next drive, Smith connected with Parker Gibbs for a gain of 55 yards down to the 10 but the drive ended there when Levi Weatherford picked off a pass in the end zone with 35 second remaining until halftime.
Parker booted a 35 yard field goal to put three more points up for the Marshals in the third quarter to cut the Calloway lead to down to eight and they forced the Lakers to punt on their next possession.
The Marshals next drive ended with a Drew Hudgin interception of Smith and he went 50 yards into the end zone to give the Lakers a 28-13 lead with seven seconds left in the third quarter.
Conner Nix in for Smith at quarterback for a few snaps, completed a pass to Aiden Dunigan but the ball popped loose and into the hands of a Laker for their fourth turnover of the game. They turned that turnover into points on an eight yard pass to Price Aycock after a 68 yard drive. The extra point attempt was blocked by Utley but the Lakers lead was 34-17.
A nice reception by Dunigan highlighted the Marshals next drive and Utley took the ball to the five yard line. It ended there on the fifth turnover of the night after Smith’s pass was deflected and into the hands of Hudgin who went the length of the field for the Lakers final touchdown and 41-13 lead.
Kameron Bowerman ran for a 37 yard touchdown that capped a 62 yard drive and Parker added the extra point in their final trip to the end zone in the 41-20 loss.
The Marshals had 423 yards of offense to 342 for the Lakers unofficially. Rushing yardage was even between the teams – 227 for the Marshals and 209 for the Lakers. In passing, Smith went 7-for 14 for 180 yards and Franklin was 13-for-21 for the Lakers with 133 yards. Bowerman and Utley each finished right at 100 yards rushing while Bledsoe moved the ball nearly 140 yards for the Lakers. Dunigan led the Marshals in receptions with three for 72 yards.
The loss drops the Marshals to 2-2 and the Lakers improve to 2-2. They will open district play next week at McCracken County. The Mustangs are off to their worst start since consolidation in 2013 at 0-4, losing Friday to Mayfield 32-14.
Marshall County 7 3 3 7 – 20
Calloway County 7 14 7 13 – 41
Marshall County vs Calloway County
