SHANE SHOEMAKER
Writer
Marion County will have a chance to defend their Class 2A state championship after beating Eagleton 33-14 in the semifinals.
The Warriors (13-1) and Royals (10-4) were deadlocked entering halftime at 7-7. Marion struck first on the opening drive with a Mason Mays 1-yard run, but Eagleton answered with a 39-yard touchdown reception with just 36 seconds left in the second quarter.
The game stayed scoreless until under two minutes remained in the third, when Mays again found the end zone to regain the lead. The senior surpassed the 100-yard mark, finishing with 104 yards and two touchdowns.
An early fourth-quarter fumble by the Warriors’ T.J. Starkey gave the Royals possession at the Marion 13-yard line, allowing them to tie the game again with another touchdown reception. It was one of two Marion fumbles on the night, the other coming in the first quarter from Jayden Frazier.
Brett Webb and Harris Weeks helped even the turnover margin with two interceptions for the Warriors.
The fourth quarter is when Marion pulled away, outscoring Eagleton 19-7. They answered the Royals’ score with a nine-play, 52-yard drive capped by an Ashton Martin rushing touchdown. Quarterback Zaiden Humphrey sprinted 46 yards on the next possession to extend the lead, and Frazier added the finishing touches with his own 40-yard touchdown run.
Martin ran for 42 yards, Humphrey finished with 81, and Frazier added 76 as part of Marion’s dominant 323 rushing yards compared to Eagleton’s 13.
The Warriors will now face Huntingdon (13-1) in the BlueCross Bowl in Chattanooga inside Finley Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 6 at 2 p.m. The Mustangs outlasted Milan 35-34 in their semifinal matchup and are making their first state championship appearance since 2012, with their last title coming in 2003.
Photos by Gene Fuller