Marshall County lost by a touchdown to Graves County last season (28-21) and in Friday’s 31st meeting between the two teams, the Eagles put 28 points on the board again but this time the Marshals just couldn’t find the end zone. The 28-0 loss was the 15th straight season the Marshals have fallen to the Eagles.
Receiving the opening kick, a nice return by Logan Reese set the Marshals up at their 40 yard line for their first drive. A couple of gains by Garrett Parker to the Graves County 45 picked up a first down and faced with fourth and a yard, the Marshals picked up the first down on a run up the middle by Aiden Dunnigan. Down to the 27 yard line with another fourth down and four yards to go, an incomplete pass turned the ball over on downs.
Graves County scored on their opening drive which began at the 27 yard line. A couple of rushes and pass reception by Clint McKee moved the ball downfield 42 yards where they were faced with fourth and 11 at the 31 yard line. The Eagles picked up the first down on a pass from John Ben Brown to the seven and scored from the one with a short pass to Race Richards to lead 7-0 with 1:38 left in the first quarter.
A turnover on downs by the Marshals on their next possession gave the Eagles the ball at their own 45. A long pass from Brown to Richards was called back on a penalty and the Marshals defense forced a turnover on downs at their 35 yard line. The Marshals drive went 32 yards before stalling out at the Eagles 33 yard line on fourth and one with an incomplete pass.
The Eagles scored their second touchdown of the game on a 24 yard pass from Brown to Cadyen Goodman following a drive that was pushed back on penalties, but big gains on pass completions to Mason Grant and Richards made up for it to give the Eagles a 14-0 lead at halftime.
Marshall County’s defense forced the Eagles into their first punt situation on their opening drive of the second half that gave the Marshals good field position at their 41 yard line but they would also line up for their first punt of the night when they were unable to pick up a first down.
The Marshals punt was returned for a touchdown…that would be called off on a block in the back penalty…but on the following play, a 40 yard touchdown pass from Brown to Richards put the Eagles up 21-0.
The on-side kick by Graves County was successful and they recovered the ball with great field position at the Marshals 43 yard line. Another touchdown, this one a 43 yard pass to Grant, was called back again on a holding penalty and unable to get the yardage needed, they would punt on fourth and 12. The snap over the head of the punter was picked up and thrown then slapped with an intentional grounding penalty.
The Marshals again with great field position and an opportunity to put points on the board, turned it ball back over on downs after an incomplete pass, setting the Eagles up at their own 28. The drive ended in a 38 yard touchdown pass to McKee and 28-0 lead at 11:28 in the fourth quarter.
Another great return by Reese set up the Marshals next possession but it ended on an interception of Quinn Smith by Richards at the Eagles 11 yard line, but the favor was returned when Chase Gibbs snatched a pass from Brown at the 19. Another opportunity in the red zone for the Marshals would end on fourth down.
Despite 137 yards in penalties, the Eagles racked up over 400 yards of offense. Brown was 17 of 27 in passing for 287 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. Richards led the way with 10 receptions for 167 yards and two touchdowns. The Eagles rushed for 152 yards, led by McKee with 112 yards on 19 carries. They improve to 6-2.
Marshall County had 126 yards of total offense, 82 of those on the ground led by Dunnigan with 26 yards and Parker with 25. Smith was 5 of 18 in passing for 44 yards, the leading receiver Griffin Darnall with two catches for 20 yards. The Marshals are 3-5 and play their final game on Friday at Henderson County (5-1).
Marshall 0 0 0 0 – 0
Graves 7 7 7 7 – 28
