Marshall County and Calloway County played for the 36th time on Friday in Murray. The Marshals lead the all-time series 28-7 and have won seven of the last nine games including last year’s 56-14 win, but Friday belonged to the Lakers who came away with a 33-7 win.
After an 0-10 season last year, the Lakers are off to a 2-2 start with Friday’s win while the Marshals drop to 1-3.
Logan Parker’s game-opening kickoff sailed into the endzone for the touchback and the Lakers began from their 20-yard line. They drove the 80 yards for a touchdown on their first possession. Quarterback Wyatt Robbins went the final seven yards, fumbling after crossing the plain, and Price Aycock recovered it for the touchdown. The point after was blocked but the Lakers were on the board with a 6-0 lead.
On the Marshals first possession, Calloway’s Logan Smith intercepted quarterback Neyland Jezik to end the drive.
Calloway County took a 14-0 lead to open the second quarter. Aycock scored from 35 yards out and with a successful two-point conversion, the Lakers led 14-0.
Dylan Robinson fell on the Lakers squib kickoff to set the Marshals up at their own 36 and on the first play from scrimmage, Aiden Dunigan went 64 yards for the touchdown. Parker tacked on the extra point and the Marshals were on the board trailing 14-7.
An interception by Aycock ended the Marshals next drive and the Lakers went on to score on a 23-yard pass from Robbins to Jessie Esparza and 21-7 lead with 4:59 remaining in the first half.
Aycock picked off a Marshals quarterback fake and throw by Toren Redmond on their final possession of the first half.
Robbins scored on a 13-yard keeper late in the third quarter, the drive going 48 yards on two plays, to give the Lakers a 27-7 lead.
Aycock with yet another interception in the fourth quarter, ran it back 48 yards for the Lakers final touchdown of the game and 33-7 win.
“I did not like our mindset”, Head Coach Steve Etheridge said to WCBL’s Aaron Clayton in postgame comments. “You’re gonna make mistakes, but you can’t let negative mistakes compound into more.”
Stat highlights for the Marshals came in the running game. Dunigan had 13 carries for 101 yards and Luke Webber 39 yards on six carries. Jezik was 3-of-9 in passing for 26 yards. Kamren Brown had two receptions for 29 yards.
For Calloway County, Robbins was 7-of-9 for 102 yards and Weatherford caught three of those passes for 62 yards. Rushing leaders for the Lakers was Aycock with 96 yards on five carries and Shaun Phillips with 72 yards on 12 carries.
After four away games to open the season, Marshall County will play their first home game next Friday against Madisonville-North Hopkins (3-1).
Marshall County 0 7 0 0 – 7
Calloway County 14 7 6 6 – 33
