Apollo comes back to beat Marshals 35-28

Garrett Parker turned this run into a 53 yard gain that ended in a four yard touchdown for the Marshals Friday against Apollo.

With a 28-14 lead just over three minutes left in the third quarter, the Marshals were playing at their best this season and looked to be headed to their first district win of 2019. Apollo was also looking for their first district win and proceeded to score the next 21 points of the game to get it, in a 35-28 win.

A quick seven was put up by Apollo on a 56 yard touchdown run by Harold Hogg, the Marshals able to answer, capping off a 78 yard drive with a four-yard touchdown by Garrett Parker to tie 7-7. Apollo took the lead again at the end of the first quarter, scoring on a 46 yard run by Hogg.

Marshall County tied it up at 14-14 on their next drive, just over 80 yards that was highlighted by a big 53 yard gain by Parker and Luke Wyatt taking it four yards into the end zone for the touchdown. The Marshals threw in the onside kick on the following kick off and recovered it at midfield. The drive ended in a missed field goal attempt with 4:40 remaining in the half.

On their next drive, Apollo was facing 3rd and 18 and a pass into the end zone for a touchdown, was called back on a holding penalty on the Eagles and the ball placed at the six yard line. A great stand by the Marshals defense held Apollo at the four and forced them to turn it over on downs and it remained 14-14 at halftime.

Receiving the second half kick, the Marshals put together a 62 yard drive that included two nice gains rushing by quarterback Quinn Smith and Parker with Ty Buchmeier taking it the final four yards for a 21-14 lead.

The Marshals forced an Apollo punt on their next possession and with great field position at the 50 yard line, covered the distance on a pass to Talon Smothers to the 27, a Wyatt run to the nine and Smith taking it in from the one yard line for a 28-14 lead at 3:25 in the third quarter.

Apollo closed the gap to 28-21, scoring on a four yard run by Hogg on their next possession and followed that up with a Malik Wilson interception of Smith, going on to tie the game on a 22 yard run by Hogg, scoring his fourth touchdown for the Eagles with 9:39 left on the clock.

The Marshals turned the ball over a second time on a fumble which Apollo took advantage of, scoring a 72 yard touchdown on a pass from Chase Rhinerson to Brandon Husk to lead 35-28 with 57 seconds to go. Working the final seconds, the Marshals converted a Smith to Buchmeier pass that went down to the one yard line.

Play was stopped following the pass completion with 19 second left, an Apollo player leaving the game by ambulance leaving players on both sides shaken up. When play resumed, the Marshals looked to have crossed the plain for a touchdown to possibly tie the game as time ran out, but it was not awarded.

Both teams utilized the rushing game to combine for over 600  yards, 344 for the Marshals and 314 for Apollo. Hogg had a great night for Apollo, gaining over 300 yards. For the Marshals, Wyatt picked up 129 yards rushing, Parker 88, Smith 58 and Buchmeier 57. Both kickers were perfect in point after attempts, Talon Smothers for Marshall County and Harrison Bowman for Apollo. Apollo had seven pass completions for nearly 125 yards while Smith passed for 89. Leading receiver for Apollo was Husk with four receptions for 87 yards.

Marshall County (2-6) will travel to Campbellsville next Friday to play Harrison County (3-5).

Apollo       14   0    7   14  –  35
Marshall   7    7   14   0   –  28

The Marshals celebrate an onside kick recovery by Justin Webb in the second quarter.
Luke Wyatt finds some running room against Apollo. Wyatt rushed for nearly 70 yards and a scored a touchdown.
Ty Buckmeier was brought down by Apollo’s Geoffery Johnson at the one yard line with 19 seconds remaining in the game.