By Michael Cignoli (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
MARIONVILLE – Wil Carlton threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more, Marionville’s defense turned in another dominant performance and the Comets clinched their second district title in the past three seasons with a 46-16 victory over Cabool on Friday night.
Marionville’s triumph in the Class 1 District 3 championship game ensures the third-ranked Comets will head to the state quarterfinals with a perfect 12-0 record, and sets up a showdown at No. 8 Adrian (10-2) at 2 p.m. next Saturday, November 19.
A win in that game would send the Comets back to the semifinals for the first time since 2006, the tail end of a four-year stretch that saw the school make annual trips to that stage of the playoffs.
Marionvillle has enjoyed plenty of success in the past three seasons, with Friday’s victory pushing its record to 34-2 since the start of the 2020 season.
One of those losses came in last year’s district title game against Thayer, which the Comets avenged last week with a victory over the Bobcats in the district semifinals.
But that thrill would have been short-lived had the Comets not prevailed against an upset-minded Cabool team, which entered the district playoffs as the No. 6 seed before stunning Sarcoxie and Ash Grove over the past two weeks.
Carlton and the Comets defense dashed any hopes of a third straight Cabool upset, as Marionville raced out to a 16-0 lead after one quarter and stretched it to 34-0 at the half.
“They’re definitely hungry,” Marionville coach Paden Grubbs said. “It was evident over the past 365 days in the weight room and the motivation that they’ve had to want to get back to this game. Last week was a huge win for us, mentally getting over the Thayer hump and this week being able to play at home in front of our home crowd for a district championship again. These kids weren’t going to let another one slip away. They played very determined with a lot of grit tonight.”
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Marionville’s defense – which is holding opponents to an average of 11.6 points per game – held the Bulldogs to just 50 total yards of offense in the first half. The Comets didn’t allow Cabool to gain a first down until there was 9:40 left in the third quarter, at which point the hosts led 40-0.
“I think this defense is better than our offense,” Carlton said. “I think our defense is the heart and soul of this team. That’s what fires us up.”
And there’s plenty to be excited about, especially as the relatively young Comets – who have just five seniors who routinely contribute – continue to gain experience.
“I still think we’re kind of getting better,” Grubbs said. “I feel like we played better this week than we did last week. … Early in the year, I felt like we struggled a little bit tackling. That’s really been a strong suit for us these last few weeks. The kids’ effort getting to the ball is the name of the game defensively right now. Our kids are just flying around and getting there and finishing plays when they get there.”
Offensively, no Marionville player finished more plays than Carlton.
The senior quarterback opened the scoring with a 3-yard run midway through the first quarter, then connected with Blane Young for a 31-yard touchdown pass just over three minutes later.
After the Marionville defense forced a three-and-out, Gage Guerin caught a short Carlton pass and scampered 41 yards into the end zone on the offense’s first play of the second quarter.
Carlton connected with freshman Cash Pomeroy for a 27-yard touchdown later in the frame, then scored on a 24-yard touchdown run on Marionville’s first possession of the second half.
Despite sitting out most of the fourth quarter, Carlton completed 11 of his 14 passes for 202 yards and added 102 rushing yards on 13 attempts.
“He’s just a winner, man,” Grubbs said. “Great leader. Like I’ve said all year, one of the hardest working kids we’ve got – and anytime your better players are the hardest workers in the weight room, good things are going to happen.”
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Hugh Eaton scored on a 1-yard run for Marionville in the second quarter, and Aaron Chapman added a 3-yard rushing touchdown late in the fourth.
Both Cabool (4-8) touchdowns came on Tyler Fleetwood fourth-quarter runs, including a 75-yarder that ended Marionville’s shutout bid. Fleetwood finished with 153 yards on 18 carries – but just 13 yards on 12 rushes while Marionville’s starters were still in the game.
That’s a credit to the defense led by Eaton, Owen Willis and Garrett Grimm.
“Owen Willis is a great player at his outside linebacker spot,” Grubbs said. “Him and Garrett Grimm are the keys for us defensively in regards to what they do at the defensive end to set leverages. Then we’ve got guys like Hugh Eaton, who’s the leader of the defense. He’s kind of that motivator. He’s going to make sure that we’re in the right spots and ready to play ball.”
But it wasn’t hard for the Comets to find motivation, particularly after coming up short last year.
“We wanted it bad,” Eaton said. “We had a really bad taste left in our mouths, as you can see. Last week, when we played Thayer, we really wanted it then – and then to finish the job tonight. It feels really good.”
The Comets also got a lift from two freshmen – Pomeroy, who had several highlight-reel hits in addition to his touchdown catch, and Bryer Guerin, whose second-quarter interception helped the Comets overcome a turnover of their own.
“Those two are starting to really develop,” Grubbs said. “I always tell them ‘You’re sophomores now. No more freshman mistakes.’ They’re sophomores now and they’re playing really good ball right now.”
Marionville’s freshmen also have the unique distinction of going undefeated throughout their sixth, seventh and eighth grade seasons – so that class is riding a four-year unbeaten streak.
“They just love to win,” Carlton said. “They just play their hearts out.”
Their emergence further bolsters the sophomore- and junior-heavy team hoping to extend its own perfect season.
“That’s one of the big reasons why you’re seeing us get better,” Grubbs said. “Not just the freshmen, but the older guys are starting to understand their roles and jobs better. I still think we’re getting better. Hopefully we stay hungry and healthy and continue this run.”
