The Marauders beat the Hebron Hawks 24-14 in last night’s game. After the win, the team chanted one phrase throughout the stadium — “the M is back.”
The Marauders are currently 3-0 in district play.
“We have the ability to obtain what we need to get [a win],” junior running back Ryan Ross said.
The Marauders got the ball to start the game but ended up going three and out. Hebron responded with a quarterback rush for 11 yards in the end zone but missed the point after touchdown. This put the Hawks in the lead 6-0 with around eight minutes left in the first quarter.
After another three and out for the Marauders, Hebron got the ball back at their own 47 yard line. However, a blocked punt from the special teams put the Marauders in a scoring position. With about five minutes left in the quarter, junior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier found senior tight end Collin Sutherland for a touchdown, putting the Marauders ahead 7-6.
The Hebron special teams fumbled on a kickoff, which resulted in a field goal by the Marauders and made the score 10-6 with two minutes left in the first.
The Marauders’ special teams then recovered an onside kick, which allowed Ross to score a touchdown. This increased the Marauders’ lead to 17-6 and ended the quarter.
“We work pretty hard on special teams,” head coach Kevin Atkinson said. “CJ Cartwright works hard to get those guys ready.”
In the second quarter, Hebron had three drives and the Marauders had two, but neither team scored. It remained 17-6 going into halftime.
After blocking another punt, the Marauders were put in a scoring position with 10 minutes left in the third quarter. Nussmeier threw the ball to Sutherland to get a touchdown, making the score 24-6.
Hebron then responded with an eight play drive, which ended in a tipped pass to the end zone. This narrowed the Marauders’ lead to 24-14 with about seven minutes left in the third, and the score stayed the same throughout the rest of the game.
Both teams punted the ball back and forth as they went into the last quarter. On a fourth and one plunge, senior linebacker and running back Ethan Barr secured the win for the Marauders.
The victory allowed the team to defend their top position in the 6a-6 district and tie their season win total from last year, which was five games.
“This is the third year in a row we were 4-1,” Atkinson said. “The first year we lost 5 in a row. Last year we went 5-5. So, to get that fifth victory means a lot to this program.”
The Marauders’ next game will be on Friday against Coppell. It will be at 7 p.m. in Marauder Stadium. If the Marauders come out on top, the team will inch themselves closer to securing a playoff spot.
