SHANE SHOEMAKER
Writer
Marion County routed Polk County last Friday night in a 57-0 shutout.
It took just four plays for the Warriors (2-0) to get on the board when Ashton Martin broke free for a 22-yard touchdown. He followed it with another 26-yard scoring run on a drive that lasted less than a minute, pushing the lead to 14-0 in the first quarter.
Mason Mays, who led all rushers with 96 yards and two touchdowns, opened the second quarter with a six-yard score. On the ensuing kickoff, the Wildcats muffed the ball at their own 29-yard line, allowing Quincy Mills to scoop and score. Ashton Richards added a one-yard touchdown run to make it 35-0, enforcing the mercy rule to begin the second half.
The defense added to the onslaught when sophomore Kye’Von McDonald recovered a fumble in the end zone to extend the margin to 50-0. It was one of three lost fumbles by Polk County (0-2). Fellow sophomore Mason Swafford capped the rout with a 10-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
The Warriors outgained the Wildcats 328 yards to 113 and held a 17-5 edge in first downs. Next week, Marion County will renew its crosstown rivalry on the road against Whitwell (0-2), which is coming off a 26-7 loss to Bledsoe County.
Photos by Marilyn Quarles & Gene Fuller