The weather was overcast and cool, and intermittent drops periodically dampened the field; the moisture may have contributed to some sloppy play from both teams.

Both squads were plagued by penalties throughout the night, and combined for 10 fumbles.

Marion had six penalties for 55 yards and two turnovers, but from the outset it was clear that the home team's explosiveness would help it overcome mistakes that the visitors simply could not afford to make.

The home crowd was still buzzing from a 20-yard gain by running back Kyle Hett when a pair of false starts brought the Warriors' first possession to a screeching halt.

Following a 46-yard punt by Austin Hager, Marion's defense held its ground for three downs, giving up no yards and forcing the first of Ellinwood's six punts.

Then, on its second chance of the game, the Warrior offense moved the ball down the field with an efficient seven-play scoring drive capped off by Hager's 11-yard touchdown run.

Wet grass may have had a hand in a failed extra-point attempt, but Marion had grabbed the lead for good at the 8:11 mark of the first quarter.

Ellinwood nearly equalized the score on a trick play. Wide receiver Boshner Whitaker took the ball on a fake end-around and lobbed a 32-yard pass to Ethan Linden.

But the Warrior defense rallied and gave up one yard before forcing a turnover 44 seconds before halftime.

The second quarter ended with Leppke running out the clock.

The next time Leppke carried the ball, he sprinted 21 yards through the heart of the Eagle defense and scored with 2:35 remaining in the third quarter.

"(Leppke) made some plays for us, but we still have many things to work on to be a complete quarterback," head coach Grant Thierolf said.

"He is willing to work to get better and he really wants to be a great QB."

Leppke started in place of Jason Hett, who was injured last week against Halstead and may be out for the season.

"We really do not know (Jason Hett's) status," Thierolf said.

Ellinwood stopped the 2-point conversion try, but the Warriors were up by 12.

Seven minutes later, the Eagles' turnovers finally caught up with them on the scoreboard.

Calvin Jeffrey snatched a ball thrown by Ellinwood quarterback Jason Wahlmeier and caught an 8-yard touchdown pass from Leppke two plays later.

With 7:54 remaining, the Eagles put the ball back in Leppke's hands by fumbling the kickoff, and Leppke promptly found Jeffrey wide open.

Jeffrey ran 27 yards along the Marion sideline to score his second touchdown only 11 seconds after his first one.

"Jeffrey has the ability to be a complete receiver," Thierolf said. "He catches the ball very well and has good instincts for a receiver.

"He is working on becoming a better blocker downfield and will be a complete receiver when he gets better in this area."

Two plays after the kickoff, Ellinwood turned the ball over for the last time; the Eagles finished with five fumbles lost, an interception, 43 penalty yards and zero points.

Hett carried the ball four consecutive times as the Warriors worked to run out the clock.

"We were pleased with the execution of the offensive line," Thierolf said.

Hett carried a total of 21 times for 130 yards and the team finished with 218 rushing yards on the night.

Coming-Next week Marion, 1-1 in league play as well as the season, travels to Sterling for its first road game. The kickoff is set for 7 p.m.