Marshall at Flora Game Story

The 3-1 Marshall Lions played host to the 3-1 Flora Wolves for Homecoming Friday. The undefeated 1979 Lions football team was recognized prior to the game. The crowning of the Homecoming queen and king took place at halftime.
It rained most of the day , but only sprinkled for a small part of the game. This left the field and ball slick and caused a number of turnovers and fumbles on both sides.

Marshall struck early, scoring within the first four minutes of the game. The Lions continued to find ways to move the ball up the field and took their fourth consecutive victory by a score of 23-0.

The Lions won the coin toss and chose to receive the ball. Patrick Parsley took the kick off at the 20 yard line and ran it out to the 43 yard line. From there the Lions got a couple of first downs on runs from Andre Strohm and quarterback Taylor Duncan. On a second down play, T. Duncan found Austin Wetnight for a 13-yard pass play.

From there Strohm took the ball to the 10 yard line. On the next play, he took it into the end zone to cap off the 57-yard drive. Luke Nelson hit the extra point and Marshall took an early 7-0 lead. Marshall’s offensive line provided great blocking to allow the early score.

Jacob Minnich kicked off to Flora. Parsley brought the runner down after a few yards. Flora came to the line in a tight formation but was held to little yardage by Jared Boyll, Lee Combs, Dalton Sanders and Parsley.

On third down, Flora quarterback Trent Tackitt completed a long pass down the field to Kole Greenwood. He only had one man to beat and was heading to the end zone when he fumbled the ball. Logan Cannady quickly jumped on the ball for a Marshall recovery.

Cole Honeyman carried the ball for Flora but was stopped at the line. The Wolves got a first down on a quarterback keeper but then was set back five yards on an off sides penalty.

With just under five minutes left in the first quarter, it looked as if Flora was going to score. John Wallace of Flora had a six-yard run and then Honeyman carried a defender with him as he pushed towards the end zone. The Wolves went for it on fourth down with two yards to go from the 11 yard line. Marshall’s great defensive line, led by Brendan Bartnick, Aaron Rhoads and Bishop, stopped the Wolves from getting the score.

Marshall took over at their own 10 yard line on downs. The Flora defenders were keying in on Strohm and not allowing much running room for him. T. Duncan had a nice 15-yard run before completing a pass to his brother Jacob Duncan. J. Duncan was able to get behind the defender, while Strohm provided a good block.
T. Duncan kept the ball on the next three plays and snuck it in from the two-yard line behind big Jared Boyll. Nelson’s extra point attempt was blocked, but Marshall led 13-0.

In the second quarter, Tackitt faked a pitch-out, but Sanders didn’t bite. He was able to get to Tackitt for no gain. The Lions forced Flora to punt on fourth down after only gaining four yards.

Marshall took over at the 44 yard line. They lost yardage when T. Duncan couldn’t reach a high snap and had to fall on the ball to protect it. On fourth down, T. Duncan punted back to the Wolves. The punt was fumbled and recovered by Marshall.

Strohm was shut down on first down. T. Duncan then found Dustin Morey for a completed pass. The Lions ended up having to punt the ball on fourth down. J. Duncan and Morey did an excellent job of downing the ball on the one yard line.
Marshall’s defense once again answered the call and didn’t allow Flora to get out past the three yard line before having to punt the ball. Because they were so deep in their own territory, Marshall got great field position on the punt. Another fumbled snap was recovered by Strohm. On third down, T. Duncan found Morey in the end zone. Morey was well-defended by Flora’s Aaron Speagle.

Bringing up fourth down, Nelson came in to attempt a 39-yard field goal. Even with the wet conditions, Nelson nailed the ball through the uprights and gave Marshall a 16-0 lead with a minute and a half left in the first half.

On the kick off, Sanders and Rodney Troutman greeted the receiver. Honeyman ran for a first down. Flora was then called for illegal procedure and set back five yards to the 35 yard line. With time running out, Bishop and Trey Trudeau brought the Flora runner down for a loss.

The second half began with Nelson kicking off to the Wolves. Speagle made a nice return before being taken down by Sam Wetherell.

Tackitt completed a long pass to his receiver to get it across the mid-field. On third down, Flora was called for holding and lost a down. They punted back to Marshall. T. Duncan ran the ball to the 12 yard line. Tackitt was able to finally bring him down after excellent blocking by the special teams.

Strohm ran the ball to the five yard line. Marshall fumbled the ball on the next play, but Bishop recovered for the Lions at the 10 yard line.

Nelson kicked off to Flora who went four down and punted back to Marshall. The next series of plays for the Lions was messy as they got called for three penalties and fumbled the ball. They recovered the ball, but were unable to move the ball. They punted on fourth down.

On their next possession, Flora went for it on fourth down and one yard to go. Sanders read the play and shot up the middle for a loss of yards.

Marshall took over on downs. Strohm attempted to run the ball, but Flora’s defense was on him pretty tight. Morey caught a pass by T. Duncan but fumbled the ball which was recovered by Flora.

Flora ran out the rest of the third quarter and started the fourth quarter by punting to the Lions. Marshall had three first downs in a row with carries by T. Duncan and Strohm. With about nine and a half minutes left in the game, T. Duncan had a pass to J. Duncan intercepted by Clay Henson.

Tackitt kept the ball on first down and broke loose from the tacklers. He was finally brought down on the 18 yard line. J. Duncan defended a pass in the end zone and was able to knock the ball away.

J. Duncan knocked away another pass in the end zone on a fourth down pass. Marshall took over on their own 15 yard line. Strohm, T. Duncan and Combs all tried to move the ball up the field but were only able to advance a total of 14 yards. T. Duncan punted the ball to the Wolves with 3:48 left in the game.
Head Coach Todd Evers put in some of the reserves. In Flora’s next series, J. Duncan tipped two passes away and Dalton Sanders sacked the quarterback, getting his sixth sack of the season. Flora punted back to Marshall.

Jacob Duncan came in as quarterback to relieve his brother. Marshall went four down and punted the ball back to Flora. The game ended with Flora having possession of the ball.

Marshall improved their record to 4-1. The defensive and offensive line again did an outstanding job providing blocking and tackling for the Lions.

Andre Strohm carried the ball 21 times for a total of 75 yards and one touchdown. Taylor Duncan kept the ball 17 times for 85 yards and one touchdown run. He was five of nine passing attempts for 88 yards and had one touchdown pass and one interception.

Jacob Duncan had one reception for 44 yards. Austin Wetnight had one reception for 13 yards and Dustin Morey had three receptions for 31 yards and one touchdown catch.

Coach Evers felt that his team made a big statement when they were able to shut out the Flora team. “Our goal is to come out and score on the first drive and we were able to do that,” said the coach.

Taylor Duncan-17 carries, 85 yards, 1TD. Jacob Duncan - 2 carries. Lee Combs - 4 carries. Andre Strohm - 21 carries, 75 yards, 1TD.
Receiving
Dustin Morey - 3 receptions, 31 yards, 1TD. Jacob Duncan - 1 reception, 44 yards. Austin Wetnight - 1 reception, 13 yards.

Taylor Duncan - 5 for 9, 88 yards, 1TD, 1 interception; 1 punt return, 78 yards. Patrick Parsley - 1 kick return, 25 yards. Jacob Duncan - 1 punt return, 10 yards.

Patrick Parlsey - 8, Taylor Duncan- 3, Dylan Reed- 2, Jacob Duncan- 1, Lee Combs - 8, Conor Littleton- 2, Trey Trudeau- 5 (1 sack), Andre Strohm - 4, Sam Wetherell - 1, Jared Boyll - 6 (1 sack), Dalton McNeeley - 2, Dalton Sanders - 11 (2 sacks), Aaron Rhoads - 2, Tyler Bishop - 4 (1 sack).