The Marauders lost 20-35 against the Hebron Hawks, moving them into third place behind Flower Mound and Coppell in the 6-6A District standings. Despite a few phenomenal offensive plays, and a solid performance by the defense, the red and silver was unable to overcome the unrelenting pressure of the Hawks’ running game.
The Hawks began the first quarter with a touchdown three minutes into the game, which was answered by a 97-yard kickoff return by senior running back Justin Dinka for a Marauder touchdown. The Hawks ended the first quarter with a second touchdown making the score 14-7. Halfway through the second quarter, senior wide receiver Marcel Brooks caught a short pass from sophomore quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and ran it 66 yards, earning the red and silver six points after a failed two-point conversion. Another Hawk touchdown less than a minute later made the score 21-13 at the half.
After a scoreless third quarter, the Hawks put another seven points on the board, followed by a 75-yard touchdown pass from Nussmeier to Brooks. The Hawks sealed their victory with another touchdown in the final minute of the game.
Offensively, the Marauder passing game lead by Nussmeier earned 249 passing yards. The running game totaled 113 rushing yards, with Dinka accounting for 56 yards, and Brooks accounting for 44. Brooks also received for 162 yards, with junior wide receiver Jaden Robinson receiving for 28. Despite some dynamic, and impressive plays by the Marauder offense, they were too few and far-between to overcome the Hawks’ consistent scoring drives.
Overall, the defense performed very well considering the constant pressure they were under by the Hawks’ offense. The red and silver defense held the Hawks to half as many passing yards as the Marauder offense, however were unable to stop the Hawks’ running game, which totaled 354 rushing yards. A fumble recovery by the Marauder defense at the Hawks’ 48 was the only turnover of the game, however it did not result in a scoring drive for the red and silver.
It was a heartbreaking loss for the Marauders, however the team credits their defense for keeping them in the game up until the final minute.
“The defense worked their ass off, the offense just didn’t deliver,” senior wide receiver Brian Kirwan said. “We just didn’t play together as a team.”
The red and silver will face the Coppell Cowboys at home on Friday at 7:00 P.M. The game will likely decide the division leaders for next week, since Cowboys are in second place just above the Marauders in the district standings.
“This next game is probably going to be our biggest game of the year,” senior offensive tackle Justin Osborne said. “We’re facing a lot of old teammates and people we know, and they’re a very good team, but so are we.”
