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By: Kelly Grooms
The Marshall Lions played host to the Pittsfield/Griggsville-Perry (COOP) Saukees last Saturday in the opening round of the
IHSA Class 3A playoffs. The Lions opened the game by scoring 28 unanswered points in route to a convincing 41-22 triumph.
Pittsfield received the opening kickoff and took possession on their own 18-yard line. The Saukees opened the action
with 3 and 4 wide receiver formations, looking to air it out against the Lions. However, after allowing a 13-yard pass play
to open the game, the Lions defense held on the next three plays, forcing Pittsfield to punt. The Lions took over for their
first offensive possession on their own 30-yard line.
Senior running back Kyle Burnam opened the drive with a 12-yard scamper. Three plays later on 3rd down and 8, senior
quarterback Travis Johnson hit junior receiver Kaleb Johnson for a 15-yard gain. Another three plays later and again on 3rd
down, Travis Johnson hooked up with sophomore receiver Taylor Duncan for a 39-yard touchdown pass. Freshman kicker Luke Nelson
drilled the extra point to give the Lions an early 7-0 advantage.
Following excellent special teams coverage by the Lions, Pittsfield took over on their own 17-yard line. On the first
play of the drive, Marshall's Taylor Duncan sacked the Saukees quarterback Perry Bonds for a 7-yard loss. Pittsfield was
unable to pick up a 1st down so they had to punt the ball away.
Following the punt, Marshall took over in excellent field possession on Pittsfield's 29 yard line. Six plays later, Travis
Johnson hit senior receiver Alan Wolter for a 6-yard touchdown strike. Luke Nelson tacked on the extra point to put the Lions
ahead 14-0.
The Lions would hit pay dirt one more time in the opening quarter, but this time it was the defenses turn. On the first
play of Pittsfield's next possession, the Saukees fumbled the ball and Marshall junior safety Marcus Linder scooped it up
raced 29 yards for a touchdown. Luke Nelson hit the extra point to give the Lions a 21-0 lead with 2:17 left in the 1st quarter.
After each team traded possessions, the Lions began threatening again midway through the 2nd quarter. Travis Johnson
opened the drive with completions of 24 and 7 yards to Alan Wolter. Later on a key 4th down and 6 play, Travis Johnson found
Alan Wolter again, this time for 22 yards. On the next play, Travis Johnson scored on a 15-yard touchdown run. Another Luke
Nelson extra point stretched the Marshall lead to 28-0.
On their next possession, the Saukees finally got it going on offense. Pittsfield put together their best drive of the
half by far, gobbling up 7:22 off the clock to get on the scoreboard. The 16-play scoring drive culminated in a 2-yard touchdown
pass from Perry Bonds to Kyle Harris. Bonds also hooked up with Harris for the 2-point conversion as the teams went into
halftime with Marshall up 28-8.
The Lions received the ball first to open the 2nd half, and they took over in great field position near midfield. However,
Marshall fumbled the ball on their second play from scrimmage and the Saukees recovered.
Pittsfield was unable to capitalize on the Marshall miscue as the Lions forced the Saukees to punt. Following a nice
punt by the Saukees, the Lions took over on their own 14 yard line.
On the first play of the drive, Travis Johnson found speedy Kyle Burnam, who took it to the house for an 86-yard touchdown
reception. The Lions' extra point attempt was blocked but they were in command 34-8.
Pittsfield continued to battle hard and they responded on their next offensive possession. The Saukees drove 68 yards
on 11 plays, aided by a huge 41-yard pass completion from Perry Bonds to T.J. Miller on a 4th down and 33 play. Sophomore
running back Elijah Hoover capped the drive with a 1-yard touchdown plunge. The 2-point run attempt failed, making the score
34-14 advantage Marshall at the 4:18 mark in the 3rd quarter.
The Saukees then went for an on-sides kick and they were able to recover it near midfield. The momentum soon shifted
back to Marshall as Pittsfield began going in the wrong direction. Following a Pittsfield penalty to open the drive, Marshall
senior defensive lineman Stephen Bowen sacked the scrambling Saukees quarterback for a 14-yard loss. Pittsfield was soon
faced with 4th down and 29. The Lions had held and the Saukees punted the ball away.
The Lions added one more score early in the 4th quarter. This time Travis Johnson, tossing his fourth touchdown pass
of the game, hooked up with Kaleb Johnson for a 10-yard score. Sophomore kicker Blake Hook kicked the extra point to put
Marshall up 41-14.
The Saukees added a late touchdown to make the final score 41-22.
Travis Johnson continued to have the hot hand by completing 15 out of 21 passes for 326 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Alan Wolter had a huge game receiving, hauling in 8 passes for 141 yards and a touchdown. Kaleb Johnson had 4 receptions
for 52 yards and a touchdown. Kyle Burnam had 2 catches for 94 yards and a touchdown while Taylor Duncan caught a 39-yard
touchdown pass.
Kyle Burnam led the rushing attack with 52 yards on 14 carries. Travis Johnson added 32 yards on 9 carries with a touchdown.
Taylor Duncan had 2 carries for 20 yards while junior fullback Ryan Shumaker had 2 rushes for 4 yards.
The Lions out gained the Saukees in total yards 434 to 258 on the day.
Defensively, senior linebacker Ryan O'Rourke led the Lions with 10 tackles. Jake Hoalt tallied 8 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
Ryan Shumaker added 7 tackles while Chance Rector had 6 tackles. Taylor Duncan had 5 tackles, including 3 sacks, while senior
defensive lineman Vance Bohannon added 4 tackles and a sack.
For Pittsfield, senior quarterback Perry Bonds completed 14 of 29 passes for 170 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore running
back Devon Johnson led the rushers with 64 yards on 10 carries with a touchdown. Senior receiver T.J. Miller led the receivers
with 7 catches for 99 yards.
The Lions (9-1) will take their 9-game winning streak into the Sweet 16 when they take on Carlinville (7-3) next Saturday.
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
Marshall -Duncan 39-yard pass from T. Johnson (Nelson kick), 7:21
Marshall -Wolter 6-yard pass from T. Johnson (Nelson kick), 2:34
Marshall -Linder 29-yard fumble return (Nelson kick), 2:17
Second Quarter
Marshall -T. Johnson 15-yard run (Nelson kick), 7:28
Pittsfield -Harris 2-yard pass from Bonds (Harris 2-pt pass from Bonds), 0:06
Third Quarter
Marshall -Burnam 86-yard pass from T. Johnson (kick failed), 9:39
Pittsfield -Hoover 1-yard run (run failed), 4:18
Fourth Quarter
Marshall -K. Johnson 10-yard pass from T. Johnson (Hook kick), 10:30
Pittsfield -Johnson 1-yard run (Johnson 2-pt run), 1:12
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