The wet, muddy conditions proved to be a problem for both sides holding on to the ball. There were many bad snaps and fumbles caused by the slick ball.

The Pioneers could never get into their game and were held to just 21 total yards. The Lions’ defensive line continued to eat up the sophomore quarterback, who rarely even had a chance to make a play.

The Marshall’s offensive line, however, did a great job of providing protection for both the passing game and the running game. The Lions scored on the opening drive and never looked back, taking the victory by a score of 43-0.

The opening kick was a short one downed by Rodney Troutman at the 31 yard line. Taylor Duncan completed a pass and then ran the ball down to the 15 yard line. From there, Andre Strohm added a few more yards. T. Duncan kept the ball and found the open hole provided by the offensive line to take it in for an 11-yard touchdown run. Luke Nelson added the extra point, and Marshall led 7-0 with just over a minute off the clock.

The Pioneers had to punt on downs as they failed to move the ball at all. In Marshall’s next series, Strohm carried the ball four times and scored for the Lions. The extra point was good and the Lions led 14-0.

On the kick off, Dylan Reed made an excellent tackle to prevent the Pioneer ball carrier from getting many yards.

The Pioneers had to punt again from deep in their own territory. The ball rolled to the 49 yard line giving the Lions good field position.
On first down, T. Duncan hit Conor Littleton right up the middle in perfect stride. Conor took the ball down to the 25-yard line. Strohm and T. Duncan carried the ball for another first down on the 14 yard line. The Pioneer defense kept the Lions at a standstill for the next three downs. The Lions went for it on fourth down from the 10-yard line. T. Duncan, under pressure from the Pioneer blitz, threw an interception. The pass was snagged by Pioneer quarterback Kasey Newlin.

Newlin attempted three passes, all of which were nearly intercepted. The Pioneers punted on fourth down. Patrick Parsley took the kick and was immediately hit by Blake Callaway of Palestine-Hutsonville.
After a wide-open pass to Dustin Morey was dropped near the end zone, T. Duncan found himself scrambling from the Pioneer defense.  On fourth down, Taylor was sacked by the Pioneer defense.

Palestine-Hutsonville took over the ball on the 38 yard line. On first down, the quarterback had to fall on the ball after a bad snap. The Pioneers lost 14 yards on that play. On second down, Newlin was able to squeeze out a couple of yards and was brought down by Jared Boyll and Logan Cannady. Illegal procedure was called against Palestine-Hutsonville and that made it third down and 26 yards to go.

The next pass was incomplete with Parsley and Aaron Rhoads pursuing the quarterback. Another bad snap on the punt caused mayhem for the Pioneers. The punter picked up the ball and started running. He then completed a short pass, but it was nowhere near enough for a first down.

Marshall took over the ball on the 30 yard line with 41 seconds left in the first quarter, and Marshall held a 14-0 lead to end the first quarter.

The Pioneers tightened up their defense in the middle to start the second quarter. Strohm and T. Duncan were held in their running game. On fourth down, Duncan picked up a bad snap, scrambled and threw a pass into the end zone. The pass was tipped and incomplete.

Palestine-Hutsonville punted the ball back to the Lions on fourth down. Marshall got the ball on the short kick on their own 43 yard line. Illegal formation was called on the Lions and set them back five yards on first down.

T. Duncan and Strohm were able to regain the yards, but an illegal procedure penalty was called on the Lions. T. Duncan hit Strohm on a screen pass which got the Lions within one yard of a first down. T. Duncan kept the ball and followed behind Boyll for the first down.
T. Duncan kept the ball for a 12-yard run. Brendan Bartnick provided a good block which gave T. Duncan the open field. From the 20-yard line, Strohm carried the ball in for another touchdown. With the point after, Marshall led 21-0 with 4:41 left in the first half.

Marshall’s defense proved to be too much for the Pioneers as they lost yardage on first down. Tyler Bishop drove the quarterback back for the loss. Second down was an incomplete pass and the third down pass was intercepted by Jacob Minnich.

On a first down play, T. Duncan hit Morey in the end zone for another score. Nelson’s extra point was no good, but the Lions maintained a comfortable 27-0 lead.

When they got the ball back, the Pioneers were not able to move the ball at all and punted back to the Lions after just three downs. Again, the snap was fumbled on the punt and Boyll recovered it for the Lions.

T. Duncan hit Morey which set up first down and goal from the six yard line. T. Duncan completed the pass to Austin Wetnight for the touchdown. The point after was good and Marshall quickly added to their score and led 34-0 with 1:46 left in the first half.
Palestine-Hutsonville had the ball for the remainder of time, but ended the first half with -13 yards and trailing 0-34.

The second half didn’t start any better for the Pioneers. Mason Hurst took the kick off and was quickly met by Troutman and brought down. The ball didn’t move off of the 35 yard line for the first three downs. On fourth down, the snap was fumbled again, leaving the punter to try to make a play.

The Lions took over on their own 35 yard line. T. Duncan was sacked by Scotty Dunlap on first down for a 10-yard loss. Strohm was able to regain a few of those yards, but on third down it was Duncan to Duncan for a touchdown from the 44 yard line. The extra point by Nelson was good and, the Lion lead was extended to 41.

Coach Todd Evers started putting in some of the reserves to give them varsity experience.  Palestine-Hutsonville got the ball at their own 21 yard line. Dalton Sanders picked up another quarterback sack with the help of Rhoads.

Michael Brown came into the game and made a good tackle on third down. In an attempt to punt the ball, Zack Carpenter had no chance of getting the ball away. On a low snap, the ball was fumbled into the end zone. The Lions got the two points for a safety. Marshall led 43-0.

Jacob Duncan came in as quarterback and Kody Kile as a running back.  On second down, J. Duncan fumbled the snap and had to fall on the ball to keep it away from the Pioneers. The Lions lost 11 yards on that play, and the Lions punted on fourth down. The punt was partially blocked. Jenson Martin took it into Marshall territory for the first time all night. Sam Chubb made the tackle to bring down Martin.

The third quarter ended with the Pioneers in possession of the ball.
Palestine-Hutsonville opened the last quarter with another fumble on fourth down. However, Newlin was able to pick up the ball and scramble for a first down. On second down, Newlin fumbled the ball on a quarterback draw, and Colby Boyer recovered the loose ball.
Taylor Sanders went in as quarterback. Marshall was unable to move the ball and Troutman punted the ball on fourth down.

On the Pioneers’ fourth down play, they attempted a fake punt. Brock Hook and Troutman read the play and tackled Mason Hurst.
The game ended with Marshall taking a commanding 43-0 victory as the Lions improved their record to 6-1.

Coach Todd Evers was very pleased with the way his defensive line played, “We kept constant pressure on them. The conditions were difficult. But even with the conditions, this was one of Taylor’s (Duncan) best passing games.”

The Lions will travel to Lawrenceville this Friday.
Marshall Stats:

Taylor Duncan - 14 carries, 77 yds, 1TD; Jacob Duncan - 2 carries; Sam Chubb - 1 carry; Kody Kile - 4 carries, 10 yds; Taylor Sanders - 2 carries; Andre Strohm - 11 carries, 98 yds, 2 TDs.

Dustin Morey - 2 receptions, 55 yds, 1TD; Jacob Duncan - 1 reception, 43 yds, 1 TD; Conor Littleton - 1 reception, 26 yds; Taylor Sanders - 2 receptions, 11 yds; Austin Wetnight - 2 receptions, 39 yds, 1 TD.

Patrick Parsley - 1PR; Taylor Duncan - 8/15, 174 yds, 3TDs, 1 interception; Lee Combs - 1 PR, 5 yds; Kody Kile - 1 KR, 15 yds; Rodney Troutman - 1 KR.

Patrcik Parsley - 2; Taylor Duncan - 1; Jacob Duncan - 2, 3 pass brk; Brock Hook - 1; Lee Combs - 4; Logan Cannady - 2, 2 pass brk; Sam Chubb - 1; Conor Littleton - 2, 1 pass brk; Trey Trudeau - 3 (1 sack), 1 f-recovery; Taylor Sanders - 1; McQuaid Peterson - 1; Colby Boyer - 2 f-recovery, 1 pass brk; Sam Wetherell - 3; Jared Boyll - 7; Dalton McNeely - 1; Jacob Minnich - 3 (1 sack); Nick Kahl - 2; Dalton Sanders - 3 (3.5 sacks); Aaron Rhoads - 1 (.5 sack); Michael Brown - 1; Tyler Bishop - 5 (1 sack); Rodney Troutman - 3.

Marshall’s defense held the Pioneers to 21 total yards.