The victory earned the Warriors a second Mid Division championship in two years with the Mid Central Activities Association, and the victory may not have happened without the special teams play of Marion.

Behind the kickoff and punt coverage of Emmanuel Jackson, who feasted on Cardinal return men, and the kick-return skills of Jason Hett, Marion excelled in special-teams play.

"I thought our kick-return and kick-coverage teams probably won the game for us because our special teams were better than theirs tonight," coach Grant Thierolf said. "We had good field position virtually all night long and they had a long field every time they got the ball.

"I was very pleased."

But Thierolf's pleasure was tested early in the game.

After the Warriors' first two attempts at a kickoff sailed out of bounds, Hoisington began its first drive on its own 40-yard line.

On the first play from scrimmage, quarterback Jacob Deutsch hooked up with Zach Stetler for a 52-yard pass that took the ball to the Warrior 8-yard line.

Two running plays lost two yards, but on third-and-goal from the 10, Deutsch connected with a wide-open Trevor Bieberle in the end zone for a touchdown less than two minutes into the game.

The extra-point attempt failed, but the Cardinals led 6-0.

The early deficit wasn't Thierolf's main concern, though.

"We talk about mental toughness and fighting through things," he said. "Sometimes when you give up a score that early it kind of invigorates you and makes you want to fight back.

"I wasn't as concerned (that they scored) as I was about us being out of position."

On Marion's first possession, the Warriors drove 26 yards in nine plays but were forced to punt, giving the ball back to Hoisington at the 20 on a touchback.

Three plays later, Cameron Horesky fumbled and Adam Depler recovered the ball for Marion only 32 yards from the goal line.

After Casey Nelson chewed up 28 of those yards on a second-down run, Josh Kelsey skirted the right side for the tying score with 2:09 left in the quarter. Marion's kick was wide left.

"Getting a short field at that point was big for us," Thierolf said. "We were inconsistent on offense tonight."

After Marion's defense forced a three-and-out to end the first quarter, the Warrior offense started at the Hoisington 44-yard line.

After Nelson was stuffed on first down, Kelsey connected with Jason Hett down the far sideline for a 45-yard touchdown. Following the extra point, Marion led 13-7 seconds into the second quarter.

"We have good athletes at receiver," Thierolf said. "When we use them, we take some of the heat off of Casey and Josh."

But undefeated Hoisington answered with a four-play, 75-yard drive capped by a 5-yard burst by Horesky-part of a 24-carry, 145-yard night-to knot the score at 13-13 with 9:27 to play in the opening half.

That when's Jason Hett chipped in on the kick return, slithering all the way to the Warrior 49-yard line, giving Marion great field position again.

Marion capitalized, driving 51 yards in six plays with Nelson scoring from three yards out. Jeffrey Richmond kicked the extra point and Marion was back on top, 20-13, with 6:32 left in the half.

But back came Hoisington.

After Jackson's special-team tackle boxed in the Cardinals at their own 19-yard line, Hoisington drove all the way to Marion's 36-yard line.

On first-and-10, Deutsch lofted a pass down the sideline that Marion defended perfectly, according to most observers, but not to the officials.

A pass-interference call on Marion was compounded when Thierolf voiced his displeasure, adding another penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. Suddenly, Hoisington was just six yards from a touchdown.

The play, however, ignited a fire in the Warrior defense, who stymied the Cardinals on four attempts, preserving the Warriors' 20-13 lead at halftime.

"That was a great stand by our defense and I was stupid to give (Hoisington) a shorter field than they should have had, and that's inexcusable," Thierolf said. "But my kids bailed me out."

It didn't take long for Marion's special teams to step up in the second half. Hoisington lined a rocket to Brett Billings on the kickoff, but the sophomore lineman covered the ball at the Marion 40-yard line.

"That was a very big play, a great play," Thierolf said. "He did what he was supposed to do. We did all the little things well on special teams."

The third quarter turned into a clinic on field as Marion, behind the inspired play of Jackson and punter Jason Hett, kept Hoisington bottled deep in its own territory.

Jackson said he takes pride in his special teams role.

"I just go straight to the ball," he said. "I worked on it this week because last week I let the runner get past me because I wasn't breaking down.

"I think the key to my success tonight was getting off the blocker and breaking down once I got to the ball carrier so he can't make a move on me," he added. "Making those plays is a special feeling. I like it, man."

Looking for fourth-quarter insurance, Marion cashed in when Nelson caught a perfectly thrown swing pass from Kelsey and glided 68 yards into the Hoisington end zone.

"They were coming so hard on the outside with their linebackers that we just thought it was time to try that play," Thierolf said. "He was wide open, Jeremy Vondenkamp threw some great blocks downfield and the rest of our kids really hustled to block, too.

"Casey just made a beautiful run," he added. "And that's why he gets all the accolades he gets."

A 2-point conversion run by Nelson capped the scoring at 28-13 lead with 10:01 remaining.

Hoisington would have the ball just two more times in the game as the Warriors kept the Cardinals at bay, allowing Marion to capture its 15-point victory for the division title.

"It's nice to have some very bright, intelligent and motivated kids who work very hard," Thierolf said. "When you do that, you always have a chance to be successful."

Marion's balanced offense produced 180 passing yards from Kelsey on 5-of-9 passing while Nelson led the rushing attack with 82 yards on 17 carries. In all, the Warriors rolled up 299 yards.

Jason Hett punted five times for a 31.8 yard average, but the junior's ball placement kept the Cardinals bottled deep most of the evening.

On defense, Michael Brookens led with 12 tackles followed by David DeForest with 11, Jackson nine, including a sack, and Kelsey six.

Coming- Marion begins district play Friday at Southeast of Saline to face the 5-1 Trojans with a 7 p.m. kickoff.

"They're coached by one of my very best friends and it's going to be fun," Thierolf said. "We're all 0-0 now and it's a new season.

"Southeast is a very good football team, I know that."