It’s been 15 years since Marshall County and Warren Central last played, the Dragons winning the last meeting 41-36 in the 2006 Class 4A State Playoffs. Coming into Friday’s game in Bowling Green, the Marshals were on a six-game losing streak at 2-6 while Warren Central was 0-7 and looking to snap a 59-game losing streak dating back to the 2015 season.
The Marshals left Bowling Green with a narrow 27-26 win, all scoring coming in the first half.
Trailing 8-7 in the first quarter, the Marshals took the lead on a one yard touchdown run by quarterback Quinn Smith early in the second quarter to lead 13-8.
The Marshals led 27-20 with just three seconds left until the half when Warren Central threw in a trick play that caught the defense off-guard and resulted in a 74 yard touchdown from Omari Glover to Deanglo Patterson for a 27-26 game at halftime.
First half scoring for the Marshals came on a 39 yard touchdown run by Landon Utley, Smith’s one yard run, a one yard TD by Gavin Clark and Utley’s second touchdown that came from five yards out.
The Marshals one-point lead held throughout the second half with neither team finding the end zone. The half highlighted by a stop from the Marshals defense on a Dragons fourth down and an interception by Brodie Young.
With the six-game losing streak snapped, despite the things that need to be cleaned up, Head Coach Steve Etheridge said “Any win is a good win.”
The Marshals had 320 total yards with most coming on the ground led by Utley with 137 yards on 25 carries and Aiden Dunigan with 72 yards on eight carries. Quinn Smith was 5-of-9 in passing for 61 yards and a touchdown. Gavin Clark led in receptions with three for 42 yards.
Warren County unofficially amassed 302 yards, most of theirs in the air. Quarterback Kayumba Jean Aime was 13-of-22 for 237 yards and two touchdowns. His top receiver was Glover with nine receptions for 139 yards.
The Marshals will host Graves County (7-2) in their final regular season game next Friday. The Eagles beat Muhlenberg County 45-14 on Friday. A week later they will play Louisville Trinity in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs.
Marshall County 7 20 0 0 – 27
Warren Central 8 18 0 0 – 26