Marshall County has lost the previous four games played against McCracken County and after last season’s 57-0 loss, the Marshals 13 points scored on Friday were the most in the five games the two teams have met. The Marshals came into the game at 2-2 and the Mustangs winless, earning their first victory of the season.
McCracken County scored nine points on a safety off a blocked punt and 11 yard touchdown by Jeremiah Hughes before the Marshals found the end zone after a 79 yard drive with quarterback Quinn Smith taking it the final five yards for the touchdown. Logan Parker’s PAT was deflected – just his second miss of the season – and they trailed 9-6 at the end of the first quarter.
McCracken County pushed their lead out to 17-6 early in the second quarter on a 26 yard pass from Pryor Lamb to Mayes and a two-point conversion.
On the Mustangs next drive, place kicker Barrett Buchanan attempted a 33 yard field goal that was blocked.
A punt by the Marshals on their next possession gave the Mustangs the ball on the Marshall County 46 yard line. A Lamb to Mayes pass picked up 31 yards and they scored on a one yard run by Hughes and with the extra point good, their lead was 24-6.
An interception of Quinn Smith on their next series by LeAndre Bolen was returned for a touchdown, but flags on the field for a block in the back penalty on the Mustangs brought the ball back. A big break for the Marshals who forced the punt and got one last chance to score before the half.
Smith to Logan Reese moved the ball to the 26 yard line before Smith was dropped for a loss as time ran out in the first half.
McCracken County went up 31-6 in the third quarter on a three yard touchdown by Keys following a 70 yard drive.
The Marshals faced a couple of fourth downs on their next drive. Converted the first one but on the second, Smith was sacked and the ball striped out by Bolen who ran it 50 yards into the end zone to put the Mustangs up 38-6.
Keys scored his second touchdown of the game on the first play after the Mustangs took over on downs, going 50 yards into the end zone for a 45-6 lead.
The Marshals found the end zone one more time in the fourth quarter on a 23 yard pass from Smith to Parker Gibbs. Parker added the extra point to finish out the scoring for the Marshals.
In his post-game comments to WCBL’s Chris Freeland, Coach Steve Etheridge said, “There are things we need to clean up. I told the guys we’re close…we’ve made some strides.”
Unofficially, the Marshals finished with 203 yards of offense, 40 on the ground on 20 carries and 163 in the air. The Mustangs had 359 total yards, 217 on the ground and 142 yards passing.
Marshall 6 0 0 7 – 13
McCracken 9 15 14 7 – 45