SHANE SHOEMAKER
Writer
The Warriors scored 13 points within a minute of each other in the fourth quarter to secure a 41-20 win over rival Grundy County last Friday night. The victory gave Marion County its third consecutive region championship.
“It was a battle,” Warriors coach Tim Starkey said. “Grundy’s a good football team. They were playing on a high because they were undefeated. And we got their best punch tonight. I think we took it.”
The game started off messy, with both teams coughing up the ball early — accounting for what would be eight total turnovers between them. Grundy (7-1) fumbled inside its own 20 a few plays in. Marion hoped to steal a possession, but a Zaiden Humphrey fumble gave it right back to the Yellow Jackets, even though they couldn’t capitalize either.
Humphrey would make up for it on the ensuing possession, sprinting 20 yards to give the Warriors (7-1) an early 7-0 lead. That was just one of his two 20-plus-yard scores, as the junior ended the half with another on a 26-yard run to give Marion a two-touchdown lead. He finished the night with 46 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while leading the team in receiving with 37 more yards.
The Yellow Jackets kept it interesting all game. Just after Ashton Richards broke away for an 18-yard touchdown to increase the lead to 14-0, Grundy answered when Vincent Bryant found the end zone from eight yards out.
The momentum swung even further the Yellow Jackets’ way when Marion quarterback Brett Webb threw a pick-six to AJ Frisbee. A two-point conversion tied the game with 5:33 left in the half.
On what may have been the play of the night, Webb made up for his second-quarter mistake by finding Brayden Pickett on a seam route in the end zone to regain the lead.
Pickett, who appeared to be battling with the Grundy defender on the catch going to the ground, said Webb’s throw was placed perfectly.
“Coach called a good play at a good time,” Pickett said. “I knew it was my time to shine, so I just went out there and caught the ball and tried my hardest. The ball fell straight in my arms — it was a good throw by the quarterback. Thank you to Brett Webb.”
Webb finished 4-of-7 passing for 67 yards and a touchdown, while Pickett had one catch for 30 yards.
A squib kick to open the second half recovered by Grundy gave the Yellow Jackets the ball inside Warriors territory. But it was their next drive that got them back in the game. Starting at their own 36, they chewed up seven minutes off the clock, going 64 yards in 14 plays to cut the lead to eight.
The drive nearly ended in disaster after a high snap and penalty pushed the ball back to the Marion 35-yard line, setting up a fourth-and-27. However, a trick hook-and-ladder play got Grundy inside the five, leading to the touchdown.
That was the last score Marion would allow. Mason Mays scored with under four minutes left to extend the lead again, and the Warriors later returned a Grundy turnover for a touchdown to make it 41-20.
The Warriors held Grundy to just 95 rushing yards while totaling 210 on the ground. Richards led with 61 yards, and the defense racked up four sacks from Mays, Caden McCrary and Melakai Underwood.
The Warriors will be off this Friday before returning Oct. 24 to Bill Baxter Stadium to face Cascade. Aside from the game, former Marion County running back and current Detroit Lions kick returner Jacob Saylors’ number will be retired.
Photos by Gene Fuller