Marion had to start their season on the road on Friday, and it wasn't the start they were hoping for. They and the Carterville Lions were almost perfectly matched up, but the Wildcats suffered a 35-34 defeat. While the Wildcats had to settle for second, they closed the game well in the third quarter, where they outscored the Lions 20-14.
Marion's loss came despite a true team effort from the offense with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Callahan Roper, who threw for 361 yards and five touchdowns while picking up 10.6 yards per attempt. The Wildcats' leading receiver Junious Thomas was Roper's top target yet again, picking up 151 receiving yards and a pair of TDs.
Even if they lost, Marion's defensive line still kept up the pressure with three sacks. The team can thank three different players for their defensive prowess: Kaden Jacobs, Hudson Wade, and Evan Francis, who each picked up one sack apiece.
Both teams are looking forward to the support of their home crowds in their upcoming games. Marion will host Granite City at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. As for Carterville, they will be playing in front of their home fans against Nashville at 7:00 p.m. on Friday.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
