The Marion football team used a big second half to earn a 19-10 victory over Hutchinson Trinity Friday night.
Trailing 10-7 at halftime, Marion shut out the Celtics in the second half and scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to seal the win.
After both teams were forced to punt on their opening drives, Trinity sliced through the Warrior defense and found the end zone on a 2-yard touchdown run that capped a 13-play, 93 yard drive that took 6:39 off the clock.
After the kick, Trinity took a 7-0 lead into the second quarter.
Marion answered when three rushes by Adam Janzen set up a 51-yard touchdown pass from Taylor Heidebrecht to James Jones on the fourth play of the drive. Grif Case?s kick tied it, 7-7, with 6:56 left in the half.
Trinity marched 65 yards on its next drive and took more than 6 minutes off the clock, but Marion limited the Celtics to a field goal attempt when a quarterback sack by Caleb Williams and John Nordquist set up fourth-and-goal from the 12-yard line.
Trinity?s field goal went up and good to give the Celtics a 10-7 halftime advantage.
Marion recovered an onside kick attempt to open the third quarter, but the Warriors were stopped short on fourth-and-2 at the Trinity 11-yard line to force a turnover on downs.
But Trinity went three-and-out, and Marion claimed the lead when Janzen rushed for a 1-yard score on the first play of the fourth quarter to cap a 10-play, 57 yard drive. Case?s kick failed for a 13-10 Marion lead.
Jones ended Trinity?s ensuing drive by intercepting a first-down pass, but Marion couldn?t capitalize and went three-and-out.
Williams? punt pinned the Celtics at their own 2-yard line, and the Marion defense forced a punt on fourth-and-7.
With 6:28 left to play, Marion pieced together the final scoring drive of the night.
Facing fourth-and-4 at the Celtic 15, Williams pounded out a 10-yard run to bring up first-and-goal. Janzen found the end zone four plays later on a 2-yard touchdown run. Williams? 2-point conversion attempt failed, but Marion held a 19-10 lead with 2:19 left in the game.
In one final attempt to score, Trinity took to the air and advanced to the Marion 11-yard line, but Case intercepted a third-down pass, allowing Marion to take a knee and seal the nine-point victory.
With the win, Marion improved to 5-1 overall, 4-1 in league play. The Warriors open district play Friday at Halstead. Game time is 7 p.m.
