By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
MARIONVILLE, MO – Marionville’s bid for back-to-back state titles fell just short during Friday’s Class 1 quarterfinal, as No. 3 Adrian upset the No. 2 Comets 17-16 at Bill Redus Field.
After a scoreless first quarter that saw both teams combine for three turnovers, the Blackhawks jumped out to an early lead in the second behind a pair of touchdowns from Mason Rusow and Colton Miller.
Marionville jumped on the board just before intermission to cut the lead to 14-8.
The Comets’ 12-play, 79-yard drive was finished off with a Bryer Guerin 7-yard touchdown run.
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The second half proved to be a defensive struggle.
Time and time again, Marionville drives were turned back by miscues and penalties.
“We just didn’t make enough plays offensively,” Comets head coach Paden Grubbs said. “We had some there, and we just didn’t execute. When we had drives going, it seemed like we had a penalty of some sort that put us in second- or third-and-long, and that’s just killer.”
Both teams were unable to put points on the board until late in the fourth quarter.
With just 2:39 remaining on the clock, Adrian converted a 27-yard field goal to push its lead to 17-8.
Marionville wasted little time responding.
A 7-play, 60-yard drive was capped by a 24-yard touchdown pass from Guerin to Jace Vickers.
Down 17-16, the Comets lined up for the onside kick with just 1:10 remaining on the clock; however, Adrian emerged from a midfield pile-up with the football and the victory.
Despite the loss, Grubbs was pleased with his team’s effort in a district championship match that lived up to its billing.
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“We’re really proud of how we fought,” Grubbs said. “In competition, there’s going to be a winner and loser, and that’s what’s great about it. We were just on the short end tonight. We just made too many mistakes tonight – too many turnovers and too many penalties. So, anytime you do that, for us to even be in the game is a testament to their effort.
“It just reflects that our kids are winners, our town’s a winner and our community is a winner. We just didn’t play well enough tonight to win and, unfortunately, defeat is not tasteful. But we’ll accept it and move on.”
Marionvile ends its season at 11-1.
C1D3 Championship: Adrian – 17, Marionville – 16
Marionville 0 8 0 8 — 16
Adrian 0 14 0 3 — 17
Second quarter scoring
Adrian – Mason Rusow 21-yard pass from Colton Miller 8-0
(Miller 2pt conversion run)
Adrian – Miller 4-yard run 14-0
(2pt conversion failed)
Marionville – Bryer Guerin 7-yard run 14-8
(Guerin 2pt conversion run)
Fourth quarter scoring
Adrian – Miller 27-yard field goal 17-8
Marionville – Jace Vickers 24-yard pass from Guerin 17-16
(Cash Pomeroy 2pt conversion run)
