The Marceline Tigers started their 2010 season on Friday night with a new tradition of entering through the Centennial Gateway, and touching the Tigers that calls that area its home. This was also the first official game for new Head Coach Paul Thomas at MHS. The new tradition started well, as Marceline downed Schuyler County 32-18 to the approval of the home crowd at Chester Ray Stadium.
“We didn’t really know what we were facing,” said Coach Thomas. “But frankly, neither did they. We spread the field out a bit tonight, which took them off-balance and helped us win the game tonight.”
The Tigers won the toss and deferred to the second half. An onside kick by Marceline drew a flag from Schuyler, so a second squib kick was used, and the Rams took over at their own 35 to start the game. Schuyler went three-and-out, thanks to a tackle for a loss by Nico Batye and a sack from Jake Ewigman. The Rams’ punt sailed out of bounds, and the Tigers took over at their own 35 yard line.
Matthew Shoop had three carries in the opening moments of the first drive, including a 22-yard jaunt for a first down. The first two penalties of the 18 that the Tigers would incur on the night slowed the drive a bit, but the Black Rage team showed perseverance and scored on a 28-yard run by Shoop. The point after was no good, but Marceline still held a 6-0 lead.
Concerning the mass of penalties, Coach Thomas was to the point: “We are going to help the kids work through the penalties at practice this week.”
Q1 7:51 – Schuyler County 0 Marceline 6
The Luke Hustead kickoff was returned by the Rams to their own 27-yard line. Schuyler moved the ball a little better in their second drive, earning their first first down, but still punted away the ball without scoring.
Marceline took over at their own 11-yard line, and thanks to a pair of big runs from Shoop (each clocking in at 18-yards), the Tigers moved the ball fairly well. The opening quarter ended with the Tigers facing fourth down.
The Tigers turned the ball over at the Schuyler 38 when the run came up just short on fourth down. A three-and-out ensued, with Dylan Clubine returning the punt. A fumble occurred on the hit, with Tyler Hamilton recovering the ball for the home team at their own 36 yard line.
A second down touchdown run by Austin Bruner was called back, robbing the senior of a 57-yard score. A 37-yard score by Batye was also called back later in the drive because of a flag. This extended drive, thanks to penalties, amounted to a three-and-out for Marceline, with Schuyler taking over at their own 32-yard line.
The Rams also went three-and-out, with Marceline taking the ball at the Rams 40. A pair of Shoop runs earned a first down, and Batye broke off a 10-yard dash to give the Tigers a first and goal. Bruner took it in from there for the score. The conversion was no good, but Marceline still led 12-0.
“It feels good to do what Coach tells me to do,” admitted Bruner. “All of the yards we gained on the ground tonight are because of our linemen. It feels awesome to be 1-0, but we still have a lot of improvement to do.”
Q2 3:34 – Schuyler County 0 Marceline 12
The Marceline defense, thanks to a sack by Blake Warner and a key stop by Randal Rosenbaum, forced another three-and-out. Bruner had 12 and 13-yard runs in the ensuing drive but would find Clubine along the home sideline for a 38-yard touchdown pass. The conversion run from Shoop was good to give the Tigers a 20-0 lead.
Q2 1:10 – Schuyler County 0 Marceline 20
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