CADIZ – Following three straight losses, a great road win is what the Marshals needed to get back on track before their all-important district game next Friday against Apollo with a spot in the district playoffs on the line, and that’s what they got in their 58-14 win at Trigg County Friday.
“That’s what we want to do, play good ball late and I feel like we did that tonight”, Head Coach Evan Merrick said. Going on to say he hopes the team will build off of the win going into Friday’s game at Apollo.
Led by Mason Green who had a 200 yard rushing night and three touchdowns, the Marshals had 446 yards of total offense, 191 yards in the air by Skyler Smith who was 12 of 17 with two touchdowns. Smith’s leading receivers were Trevor Fisk who caught 2 passes for 68 yards and a touchdown, Tristen Prange 3 receptions for 50 yards and Grant Utley 4 for 61 yards and two touchdowns. Trigg County had 235 yards of offense, most of those in the air from Tyreke Wilson who completed 8 of 17 for 207 yards to Caleb Burden who had 4 receptions for 70 yards and KiRome Bingham with 4 catches for 83 yards.
Trigg County fumbled the ball on the opening kick which was recovered by Marshall County’s Austin Riley at the 18 yard line, they then went the 18 yards in two plays to score on a seven yard run by Mason Green for the early 7-0 lead following the extra point kick by Daniel Gardner.
On their next possession that began at their own 19 yard line, the Marshals went 81 yards with a combination of runs by Green, pass receptions by Grant Utley, Tristen Prange and Trevor Fisk and scored on a fumble by Green that was recovered in the end-zone by center Thad Buchanan. Gardner’s extra point attempt was good for a 14-0 lead.
The Marshals next two points came on a safety from a high snap over Trigg County quarterback JaKobe Bridges who was taken down in the end-zone by Austin Riley. They threatened to score again late in the first quarter, electing to attempt a 37 yard field goal to start the 2nd quarter on 4th and long that was no good, but the Marshals quickly got the ball back on a pass interception by Grant Johnson that led to a three yard touchdown run by Brandon Ray and two point conversion by Green for a 24-0 lead.
Trigg County put their first points on the board when Tyshon Barker took the ensuing kick-off 82 yards for a touchdown. The Marshals followed that up with a 79 yard drive, highlighted by runs from Green and Riley and a 32-yard pass from Skyler Smith to Utley for a touchdown and 30-7 lead.
Bridges was intercepted again by the Marshals, this time by Grant Johnson who took it back down to the two yard line that set up a one yard touchdown run by Green and 37-7 Marshall lead. Their final score of the first half came with just seconds to play on a five yard pass from Smith to Green, extra point kick by Gardner and a 44-7 halftime lead.
With a running clock in the second half, the Marshals scored right away on a 55 yard touchdown run by Green to lead 51-7 but the Wildcats would not lie down, scoring in the 4th quarter on a 24 yard pass from Tyreke Wilson to KiRome Bingham after a 94 yard drive to cut the Marshals lead 51-14.
The Marshals final score of the game came with just under seven minutes to go on a 57-yard pass for a touchdown from Smith to Trevor Fisk for the 58-14 win, the most points scored in a game for Marshall County since August 29, 2008 when they beat Heath 59-14.
The win moves their record to an even 4-4 and will line up against Apollo Friday in Owensboro in a must-win district game. Apollo is 2-6 following their 35-14 loss to Owensboro Friday.