Marion states its playoff case

JASPER, Tenn. -- Needing someone to step up and ensure its season would continue into the playoffs, Marion County got a take-charge game from two seniors on offense.

With their postseason life teetering on the outcome of Thursday's game, running back Nick Wells and quarterback Trey Hill combined for 328 yards of total offense and four touchdowns in a 30-6 District 6-A win over Lookout Valley.

"This whole year we've been told that the team was looking for leadership," Wells said. "This was do or die for us tonight; we knew that. We knew it would take more than just one person, and really, everybody did their job.

"I'm glad we don't really have to worry much about the playoffs anymore. We should be in, so now we just have to wait and see who we're playing."

Going into the game, according to one TSSAA official, the Warriors clung to the final wild-card playoff berth in Class 2A and needed a win to solidify that spot.

The Warriors (6-4, 2-2) outrushed Lookout Valley 154-13 in the first quarter, taking a three-touchdown lead, and continued to pull away with a punishing ground attack.

Playing with a partially torn ankle ligament, Wells finished with 153 yards on seven carries, including a 48-yard touchdown. Hill added 132 rushing yards with three TDs and also threw for 43 yards.

"Basically, we talked before the game about how our season was over if we didn't win," Hill said. "I thought if we could get up on them early, they wouldn't be able to catch up.

The Warriors began the game with a 74-yard drive, on seven running plays, capped by Hill's 4-yard scoring run. The next possession lasted just two plays, with Wells racing for his touchdown. After holding the Yellow Jackets to three-and-out, Marion continued to drain drama from the game when Hill converted a fourth-and-goal with a 5-yard TD.

Lookout Valley (7-3, 1-3) is expected to earn a wild card in 1A. A swarming Warriors defense limited the Yellow Jackets to 151 rushing yards and created two turnovers.

"We feel like we're a much better team than our record shows," Marion coach Troy Boeck said. "Now we should get a chance to prove that in the playoffs. We came out with a lot of intensity early because our kids knew what was riding on this one."