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Lions make it five in a row with big win over Oblong
The Varsity Lions Football Team traveled to Oblong Friday night. They steamrolled over the Panthers 41-8, giving them a winning
streak of five consecutive wins.
To start out the game, the Lions drove downfield with successive pass completions from quarterback Travis Johnson to Kyle
Burnam and Alan Wolter. The Lions pressed all the way to the Oblong one yard line and Travis sneaked the final yard over the
line for the first Lion touchdown. The extra point was not good, and Marshall led 6-0.
Tyler Howard kicked off to the Panthers. The Lion defense stifled Oblong's progress downfield and they soon were forced
to punt. Lane Morecraft kicked to the Marshall 48.
Soon after the Lions gained possession, Oblong's Elliott Smith intercepted a pass intended for Alan Wolter.
The Panthers gained little against the Marshall line of Drew Kendall, Vance Bohannan, Andrew Brown, Jacob Minnich and
Josh Harrold. Ryan Shumaker and Jake Hoalt also brought down the Oblong ball carriers.
T. Johnson caused the Oblong ball carrier to fumble on the Panthers' third down and Wolter recovered the ball. There was
4:55 left to go in the first quarter.
The Lions moved rapidly toward the Oblong goal. Johnson completed a pass to Wolter on the 20 yard line for a first down.
In short order, Johnson threw a pass over the head of the intended receiver and Oblong intercepted the ball. Kendall promptly
took down the Panther receiver.
After an initial first down, the Panthers were unable to penetrate the tough Lion defense and were forced to punt.
Burnam received the ball and began the Lion drive down field. Johnson completed two passes to Wolter for consecutive first
downs. A pass to Ryan Shumaker netted some more yardage, and another pass to Kaleb Johnson for a touchdown. Marshall attempted
a two-point conversion but was unsuccessful, and Marshall led 12-0.
Howard kicked off to Oblong. The Panthers received the ball on the ten yard line and returned it to the 30. Hoalt and
Marcus Linder brought down the Oblong ball carrier.
A carry by Justin Allen netted the Panthers a first down, but Hoalt, Shumaker and Kaleb Johnson stymied Oblong progress
on the third down.
In one of the more effective plays of the game, Oblong managed to fake a punt on the 4th down, allowing Morecraft to run
for a first down. He was tackled by Howard.
Shortly after, Palacios ran in a touchdown for Oblong from the 23 yard line. The two-point conversion was good and Oblong
was back in the game, 8-12.
Burnam received the kick off for Marshall and ran to the 31 yard line. After a pass completion to Tyler Shotts, Johnson
ran for a first down.
Johnson completed passes to Shotts and Shumaker, and Marshall soon had the ball on the one yard line. Travis ran the ball
over the line for the Lions' third touchdown. Nelson's extra point kick was no good, and the Lions led 18-8.
Howard kicked off to Oblong. Palacios was the receiver. He was brought down by Wolter and Taylor Duncan at the 42 yard
line.
Ryan O'Rourke, Kendall, Bohannan, Howard kept the Oblong gains to a minimum, and the Panthers turned over the possession
on downs. The Lions were off. Johnson completed a 27-yard pass to Shotts, and Dustin Morey made a diving catch on the Oblong
15 yard line.
Travis completed a pass to Shumaker on the two yard line. Unable to make a touchdown, Luke Nelson kicked a field goal
with one second to go. There was a penalty called against Oblong, and Nelson had to kick again - this time from the nine yard
line. His second kick was also good and Marshall led 21-8 at the half.
As the third quarter got underway, the Panthers fought down the field. Plummer managed a first down on a quarterback sneak.
Tackles were made by R. O'Rourke, T. Johnson and Bohannan.
When Marshall regained possession of the ball, Burnam made a terrific 65-yard carry with the help of nice blocks by Dustin
Morey and others. An illegal block was called and the ball was called back.
Undaunted, the Lions droved downfield on carries by Burnam and Shumaker. Despite three calls of holding in four plays,
the Lions soon scored again as T. Johnson completed a pass to Burnam, who ran in from the 25 yard line.
The extra point by Luke Nelson was good, and the Lions led 28-8.
Howard kicked off all the way to the Panther five yard line. Morrison recovered the ball for Oblong and ran to midfield,
where he was taken down by Linder.
The Panthers achieved a first down on a carry by Jacob Stewart. They couldn't get much further and Marshall soon regained
possession.
Burnam ran for a first down. Tackles were made by Bohannan and Miller. As the third quarter came to an end, Travis handed
off to Burnam and Johnson proceeded to act as Kyle's lead blocker for a gain of 15 yards.
The Lions started off the fourth quarter with a touchdown. The extra point kick by Sam Chubb was not good and Marshall
led 34-8.
In spite of the lopsided score, the Panthers continued to keep the action lively.
A quarterback sack by Josh Harrold put the ball in Marshall hands, but the Lions fumbled and the ball was recovered by
Oblong's Palacios. The tough Lion defense thwarted Panther attempts to pass. Linder, Bartnick and Kendall and Hoalt tackled
the receivers.
With eight minutes to go, the Panthers passed into the endzone. This was intercepted by Wolter, who then ran virtually
unchallenged 97 yards for the Lions' final touchdown. The extra point kick by Blake Hook was good, and the Lions led 41-8.
Howard kicked off for Marshall, and Chance Rector and Shotts downed the Oblong receiver.
Plummer completed a pass to William Wilson for a first down. The Panthers were unable to advance and soon turned over
the ball on downs.
Johnson completed passes to Linder and Wolter, who ran the ball for 15-yard and 19-yard gains, respectively. The game
ended with Taylor Duncan achieving a final first down for the Lions.
Final score: Marshall 41, Oblong 8.
This Friday the Lions will host Palestine.
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