Patriots host Van Buren in 1st round of playoffs

Marion set for opening round of State Tourney

By Chuck Livingston

Marion School District

Along with hay rides, corn mazes, jack o lanterns, and candy corn, one of the better fall traditions can be found in Marion, Arkansas, USA.

That’s because every season since 2004, Marion has qualified for the state football playoffs, a stretch of 20 seasons now where the Patriots have been in the postseason.

That run is the second-longest playoff run in Class 6A, trailing only mighty Greenwood, which last missed the playoffs in 1993.

“Making the playoffs is not something we ever take for granted,” said fourth-year Marion coach Lance Clark.

“This is the best time of year.

It’s always our first goal when we’re in summer drills, in fall camp. Everybody doesn’t get the opportunity to play for a state championship, and as long as you are in the tournament then you have a chance.

It isn’t easy. These are the best teams from the state, but you have to be in it to win it.”

Marion’s (7-3 overall, 5-2 6A East) playoff run actually began on the heels of a lengthy playoff drought. The Patriots lost a first-round playoff game at Alma 28-14 in November 1992, and Marion did not make its way back to the playoffs for 13 seasons.

State media universally picked the 2005 Patriots to return to the playoffs in the preseason, but a 1-2 start in league action had MHS on the outside of the postseason picture for most of the fall.

Until the Pats won their last four regular-season games, including a 13-10 Week 9 home victory over Wynne, to nab the 5A East’s No. 2 seed to host a playoff game for the first time ever.

Marion used the home field as a springboard in the playoffs’ opening round, overwhelming Crossett 44-7 before succumbing to eventual Class 5A state champion Greenwood 44-34 in the state quarterfinals.

The 2006 Patriots earned a conference title for just the second time in school history and made the state semifinals for the first time ever, and the Marion football program never looked back.

Marion hosted a playoff game in 2016 for the first time in five years, and the Pats have hosted a postseason contest every year since then, a run of nine years.

The Pats have advanced to the state semifinals in 2020 and 2021, while last year’s outfit finished as conference runnerup, earned a first-round bye, and hosted a state quarterfinal game.

Marion faces a similar playoff path to the 2021 Final Four outfit this fall. That’s the year that the No. 4-seeded Patriots hosted West No. 5 seed Russellville, in a game that the Cyclones were almost unanimously picked to win.

In the end, Marion led 42-0 in the third period and steamrolled into a quarterfinal game at 6AWest champion Benton.

The Patriots routed Benton 59-37, Marion’s first victory ever over a No. 1-ranked team in program history.

This year, Marion hosts Van

See PATS, page A9 PATS

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Buren on Friday night, and should the Patriots win, they would travel to play Shiloh Christian in the state quarterfinals on November 22.

“Our focus right now is Van Buren, because it’s the only game that matters,” said Clark. “There’s no reason to look ahead at what might happen in two weeks, three weeks, or whatever, because if we don’t beat Van Buren then it’s over. Van Buren is very talented, their tailback and receiver are super impressive. They’ve played three quarterbacks this season, but the one who’s in now does a great job. They have big human beings in the trenches.

This will be a big challenge for us.”

Van Buren opened its 2024 season with a 37-27 victory over Alma in the “Battle for the Bone,” before earning its first conference victory over Siloam Springs (45-11) in Week 5, and the Pointers effectively punched their ticket to the playoffs two weeks late with a 42-28 victory at Fort Smith Southside.

Additionally, Van Buren has some familiarity with playing postseason games in Crittenden County. Almost one year ago to the day, Van Buren traveled almost 550 miles round-trip for a first-round playoff game at West Memphis. The Pointers rallied from an early 7-3 deficit and pulled away for a 55-32 victory at Hamilton-Schultz Field.

“So we know they won’t be bothered by a long trip because they’ve figured out how to make it a positive,” said Clark. “A lot of the guys who helped them win that game last year are still on the team this year, and they may be better. This is a confident, capable team, and we need to play well to win. That’s what the playoffs are all about.”

HOW TO WATCH

Kickoff for Friday night’s first-round playoff game is scheduled for 7 p.m., and you can watch the game for free at MarionPatriots.com, on the MPAN YouTube channel, or on the MPAN mobile app.

TICKETS

You must buy your Van Buren-Marion football tickets at GoFan.co, and tickets will not be sold at the gate. Tickets cost $8 apiece.

MST LEADS THE PLEDGE

Marion Math, Science, and Technology School will lead the Pledge of Allegiance prior to kickoff on Friday night.

VAN BUREN SERIES

Marion won the only previous meeting with Van Buren in the 2020 Class 6A quarterfinals. The 55-34 home victory pushed the Patriots into the state semifinals for just the second time in school history.

SWEET SEVEN

Marion won seven games in a regular season for just the 15th time in school history and for the fifth time in seven years.

The Pats have won seven games or more nine times since 2004, and a win on Friday would give MHS eight wins for just the ninth time ever and for the third time in four years.

6A EAST PLAYOFF GAMES

Van Buren at Marion Sheridan at Mountain Home Jonesboro at Lake Hamilton Russellville at El Dorado Greenwood, Little Rock Catholic, Benton and Shiloh Christian Academy all received first round byes.