By Don Abernathy (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
If the game plan against visiting St. Vincent on Saturday was to be more physical, then Marionville’s offensive line executed the plan to perfection.
The Comets’ offensive line dominated play from the opening kick, scoring on each of its first six possessions of the game, en route to a convincing 38-7 Class 1 state semifinal victory at home.
“Our game plan was to be more physical than their defensive line and, yes sir, I do believe that we were,” Marionville senior lineman Dalton Russell said.
“We’re not selfish and we know how to play together. All we want is a championship really bad.”
Marionville (13-0) will play North Platte (12-1) for the Class 1 state championship at Faurot Field on Dec. 1 at 3 p.m.
The Comets took the opening kickoff and marched 80 yards in 11 plays, all rushes, and scored on sophomore Cash Pomeroy’s 30-yard run to the right pylon.
It was Russell’s block at the point of attack, which sprung Pomeroy, and set the tone for Marionville’s front line.
“I pulled and pancaked this kid and Cash did the rest of the work,” Russell said.
All that was left for Pomeroy was one St. Vincent defender to beat.
“Dalton Russell came and opened the way,” Pomeroy said. “I just followed right behind him and then bounced it outside to the right and stiff-armed a guy and off to the races I went.”
The Comets forced St. Vincent to turn the ball over on downs on its first possession and then went right back to work.
Marionville again drove 80 yards, this time in 14 plays, to take a 14-0 lead midway through the second quarter.
“Our offensive line played huge today,” Marionville coach Paden Grubbs said. “They were very physical for us up front. They dictated the game. The running backs had huge holes to run in. Truly an O-line game today.”
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On St. Vincent’s second possession of the game, the Comets once again forced a turnover on downs, this time at midfield, with just over three minutes left in the first half.
Runs from Pomeroy and senior Hugh Eaton, along with a pair of passes from sophomore quarterback Bryer Guerin, got the Comets to the St. Vincent 6-yard line just seconds before the end of the first half.
With the clock running under 15 seconds and no time outs, senior kicker Gabe Uttini and the field goal unit ran out, got set, and made a 21-yard field goal for a 17-0 lead. The kick sailed through the uprights just as the first half clock expired.
The Comets forced a turnover on the first possession of the second half and continued their ground assault. It was an interception by senior Gage Guerin deep in Marionville territory that ended St. Vincent’s first drive of the third quarter.
Ten plays and 86 yards later, Marionville was on the board again with Pomeroy’s second touchdown of the game for a 24-0 lead.
“Our offensive line played great today,” Pomeroy said. “They were opening up big holes and making it easy for me to find open grass. This is a great team and everybody trusts each other. This is a great feeling. It’s unexplainable.”
Eaton recovered a fumble to end St. Vincent’s next drive, and then broke free for a 34-yard touchdown for a commanding 31-0 lead with 2:36 left in the second quarter.
Marionville rushed 51 times for 358 yards and five touchdowns and had 365 total yards, while St. Vincent had 221 total yards, of which 145 yards were through the air.
Pomeroy finished with a game-high 134 yards on 15 carries with three rushing scores, and Eaton added 121 yards on 20 carries with two more scoring runs for the Comets.
“It’s great, this feeling is awesome,” Russell said. “We have worked hard all season to get to where we are, and it’s taken everyone working together to do all this. What I will remember from today is how well we executed and played together.”
