Friday at Carroll Traylor Stadium, Marshall County played Apollo for the 32nd time dating back to the 1977 season when the Marshals defeated the Eagles 15-0. Marshall County holds a one game advantage since that year at 16-15 in the series, but Apollo has won the last six in a row.
The Marshals came into Friday’s game at 2-6 and Apollo 1-7, both looking for a second Class 5A District 1 win to earn a spot in the post season playoffs. That spot will go to Apollo after beating the Marshals 30-13.
Marshall County won the opening coin toss and elected to receive but after a 51-yard drive that began at their own 29, they fell one yard short of a first down and turned it over on downs to Apollo at the Eagles 20.
Following punts for each team on their next possessions, Apollo’s Niles Board returned the next Marshall County punt into the endzone, but it was brought back on a penalty as the first quarter ended.
A punt by Apollo to open the second quarter set the Marshals up at their own 21. Apollo’s Brock Burger intercepted quarterback Neyland Jezik and the Eagles had 48 yards to work with. They took advantage of the short field and scored on a 44-yard pass from Maxwell Johnson to Landen Bratcher for a 7-0 lead.
With 2:06 left in the half, Apollo went up 14-0 on a 15-yard touchdown run by Board at the end of a drive that went 74 yards.
The Marshals got on the board before halftime on a 58-yard pass to a wide-open Dalton Hartman. The extra point attempt was good by Logan Parker and the Marshals went to the locker room trailing 14-7.
Apollo opened the second half with a huge kickoff return to the Marshals 30 yard line but a big stop by the Marshals forced Apollo to turn the ball over on downs.
The Marshals next drive covered 83 yards and they scored on a 13-yard pass from Jezik to Toren Redmond. The two-point conversion attempt failed and the Marshals trailed 14-13.
Apollo finished out a 65-yard drive to start the fourth quarter and scored on a two-yard run by Board to take a 21-13 lead.
On the Marshals next possession, Jezik was dropped in the endzone for a safety and Apollo took a 23-13 lead. Receiving the kick following the safety, Apollo went on to score on a 13-yard reception by Bratcher to extend their lead to 30-13 which would be the final score.
In unofficial stats, Marshall County had 168 yards of offense. Luke Webber was the leading rusher with 76 yards on 11 carries. Jezik was 4-of-8 in passing for 88 yards and two touchdowns. Hartman led in receiving with 58 yards on one reception.
Apollo finished the night with 250 yards of offense. Board was their leading rusher with 56 yards on 16 carries. Johnson was 13-of-20 in passing for 178 yards.
The Marshals final regular season game will be at home next Friday against McLean County (7-2).
Apollo 0 14 0 16 – 30
Marshall 0 7 6 0 – 13