Home(coming) Mountain

Home(coming) Mountain

Bombers to duel Pats

Sports Editor Through the three weeks of the non-conference season, it appeared as though the Marion defense was missing a number of key players from its good 2015 defensive unit.

The Patriots lost seven starters to graduation in May and entered the season knowing that some of those spots would be filled by players that have not played a lot of snaps, and even some sophomores, who played their games on Thursday nights last season, rather than on Fridays. However, if the first three weeks of conference play are any indication, Marion’s defense may be righting the ship.

The Patriots (3-3 overall, 2-1 6A-East) are tied for second in league play ahead of Friday’s Homecoming tilt against Mountain Home, and have allowed point totals of 22, 7 and 14 in building that 21 start.

“We’ve been lucky enough to have 7 coaches on our high school staff, and 4 of them are focused on defense only,” explained third-year Marion head coach Jed Davis on Wednesday morning. “I think those guys have done a great job of putting us in the very best chance of being successful. We’re giving teams some different looks, but we’re still gap sound up front, and I think you have to compliment the coaches for that preparation.”

In last Friday night’s win against Searcy, Marion faced a team that was averaging 29.8 points per game in bolting out to a 5-0 start, and limited the Lions to 14 points, or less than half of their average to date.

Davis credited the seniors on his defense for that effort.

“You’ve gotta have those senior guys on your side that have been through the battles before,” says the coach. “Michael McNeeley makes all of our calls up front, he makes sure we’re lined up, everyone is where they need to be.

(Senior safeties) K.B.

(Williams) and K. Hill (Kuriston Hill), we give them the freedom to check coverages based off formations and alignments, so we really have to trust them out there, and they’ve been great for us in that role.”

Another senior that’s been making his presence felt has been linebacker Quinton Wilson, who came up with 2 sacks against Searcy and another tackle for loss.

“That’s a guy whose motor just doesn’t stop ever,” Davis said. “He’s really helped solidify us at that spot.”

Marion has also gotten contributions from sophomores in cornerback Kenta Jones and linebacker Anthony Switzer, making for a defensive starting lineup that has players in every class, seemingly.

That Patriot defense will have a challenge when Mountain Home visits Patriot Stadium on Friday night.

The Bombers (1-5 overall, 1-2 6A-East) are fresh off of their first win of the season, beating Jacksonville last week at home, a fact that’s not lost on Davis.

“They scored a bunch of points in that game. I gotta tell you, I didn’t have them beating Jacksonville in that game. I just assumed that Jacksonville would put it on them, especially as athletic as they are,” said Davis. “This isn’t your father’s Mountain Home.

They have a coach and he’s doing whatever it takes to win some games, and that’s already paid off for them.”

On offense, Davis says that the Bombers will lean on the ground game, but with a twist.

“They have a lot of fast athletes that can really go.

Offensively, they’re a lot like Wynne, at least as far as favoring a power running game. Their quarterback and their running back, and they want to get you misaligned and get the ball to their playmakers,” says the coach.

On defense, Davis said that Mountain Home will play a lot of man-to-man coverage.

Marion has not lost to Mountain Home since 2008, and has never lost to the Bombers at Patriot Stadium. The Pats lead the all-time series 10-3, and two of those losses came in 2006, including a Class 6A state semifinal setback.

Prior to kickoff at the stadium will be the presentation of the 2016 Marion High School homecoming court at 6:30 p.m.

The game can be heard on 92.5 FM and will begin at 6:30 with the Jed Davis show.

By Chuck Livingston