Marshall County Football kicked off the 2022 season at home Friday with a 54-0 win over Ballard Memorial in the 13th meeting between the two teams. They beat the Bombers 62-0 in last year’s season opener. The Marshals have now won the last seven games in the series and the last Ballard win was on Sept. 4, 2015.
The Marshals led 27-0 at the end of the first quarter. Landon Utley opened the second quarter with a 6-yard touchdown run followed by a 10-yard touchdown by Aiden Dunigan following a blocked punt by sophomore Luke Owen. With a 41-0 lead, a running clock began for the remainder of the game. Kameron Bowerman’s touchdown just before the half gave the Marshals a 47-0 lead at halftime.
No points were put up in the third quarter and they went into the fourth still up 47-0. The final TD of the night was scored by sophomore Luke Webber on a 5-yard run with five seconds remaining.
The Marshals had 356 total yards, 268 on the ground against the Bombers. Quarterback Conner Nix was 5-of-6 in pass completions for 88 yards. Webber led in rushing with 98 yards on 11 carries and one touchdown. Bowerman had 56 yards on six carries and a touchdown. Utley scored a touchdown and had 41 yards on five carries. Dunigan had two touchdowns on his three carries for 28 yards and Jackson Mahmet carried the ball five time for 21 yards and a touchdown.
Luke Owens was the leading receiver for the Marshals with one catch for 33 yards. Webber had 21 yards on one catch, Jacob Wilson had two receptions for 18 yards, both for touchdowns, and Jake Stokes caught one pass for 16 yards.
Logan Parker was 6-of-8 in point after attempts. Gavin Clark, Jordan Clapp and Wilson Shadowen led in tackles with three each.
Ballard finished with 110 total yards, minus two rushing and 112 in passing. Senior Jerrico Wilson led the Bombers with 12 yards rushing and 73 yards on three receptions. Quarterback Hunner Bealmear was 12-of-22 in passing for 112 yards.
In pre-game festivities, senior players honored teachers that have had the most impact on them throughout their school career. Earlier in the week they visited each teacher in their classrooms and personally invited them to be their guest at Friday’s season opener.
The Marshals will play at home next Friday against Fulton County with a 7:00 kickoff. The Pilots lost 60-34 on Friday to Gleason, Tenn.
