A previously scheduled heat delay and another 30-minute lightning delay in the third quarter didn’t deter the Marshals from picking up their first win of the 2023 season over Grayson County on Friday in Leitchfield.
It’s been 19 years since Marshall County and Grayson County met on the football field in a Bowl Game held at Murray State’s Stewart Stadium. The Marshals won that game on August 20 by the score of 24-7. Friday was just the second meeting between the two programs.
Winning the coin toss and electing to receive, the Marshals put together a 64-yard drive that resulted in a one-yard touchdown run by sophomore Luke Nimmo. The two-point conversion attempt failed but the Marshals were on the board with a 6-0 lead.
Following a Grayson County punt on their first drive of the game, the Marshals set up at their own 35. Grayson County’s Jayden Kinney intercepted Marshals quarterback Neyland Jezik and the Cougars scored on a nine-yard run by Jeren VanMeter. With a successful extra point kick, they took a 7-6 lead.
A nice kick return by Marshall County’s Blaze Brown to the Cougars 49 was followed by a 49-yard run into the endzone by Luke Webber. Logan Parker kicked the extra point to give the Marshals the lead back at 13-7.
Parker’s kickoff sailed into the endzone for the touchback and set Grayson County up at the 20 to open the second quarter. On the Cougars first play, Luke Owen grabs an interception and runs it back the 20 yards for a touchdown and with Parker’s extra point, the Marshals led 20-7.
Grayson County was forced to punt on their next possession but a fumble on the catch was recovered by the Cougars. A nice defensive stand by the Marshals forced a turnover on downs but unable to get things going offensively, the Marshals would punt.
With only 34 yards to cover, Grayson County scored on the pass to VanMeter and with the extra point kick good, cut the Marshals lead to 20-14.
On the Marshals next drive, a long touchdown run by Aiden Dunigan was called back on a holding penalty. A run by Webber and pass from Jezik to Toren Redmond set Parker up for a 44-yard field goal attempt with 6.6 second remaining. The field goal split the uprights and the Marshals lead was 23-14 at halftime.
Out of the halftime break, Grayson County scored on their first possession on a 15-yard run by Kadin Hanshaw. The Marshals blocked the extra point attempt and held a 23-20 lead before the 30 minute lightning delay with 6:07 left in the third quarter.
With heavy rain falling, the game picked back up at 9:57.
On the Marshals next possession, a 40-yard field goal attempt was no good and the Cougars set up for their next drive at their own 23 but turned the ball back over on a punt.
The Marshals faced fourth down on their 29 as the third quarter ended but to start the fourth quarter, pulled Grayson County offsides to pick up the first down. Facing fourth down once more, the special teams unit took the field and Parker converted a 37-yard field goal to put the Marshals up 26-20.
Grayson County punted on their next possession and the Marshals were content to run the clock out to earn their first win.
The Marshals had a total of 289 yards of offense, the majority on the ground with 253. Grayson County finished with 208 yards of offense.
The team will have a shorter trip next Friday when they travel to Murray. The Tigers are 2-0 with wins over Trigg County (41-21) and Calloway County (35-14).
Marshall County 13 7 3 3 – 26
Grayson County 7 7 6 0 – 20
Marshall County Game Stats:
Rushing
Aiden Dunigan 21/132
Luke Webber 10/76, TD
Luke Nimmo 6/32, TD
Jackson Mahmet 4/16
Passing
Neyland Jezik 5/9, 36 YDS
Receiving
Jordan Clapp 1/15
Toren Redmond 2/13
Jackson Mehmet 1/5
Kamren Brown 1/3
Leading tackles
Ben Burd 6
Dylan Robinson 5
Nathan Knight 4
Kane Buchmeier 4