By BEN KLEINE

Staff writer

In six October games — including contests against Hillsboro, Canton Galva, Peabody, and Centre — the Marion fourth-grade Warrior flag football team won every game by at least 60 points.

The team was dominant on both sides of the ball.

“I think we let two teams score one touchdown all year,” head coach Mike Calhoun of Marion said.

The team was sponsored by the Hillsboro Recreation Commission but used equipment provided by the Marion Recreation Commission. The team played its games in Hillsboro.

Flag football is played with eight players on each side and has specific rules: there is a three-second count before a player can rush the quarterback and a play is officially dead after an interception or fumble recovery.

The Marion team was successful for two reasons — they were fast and they worked harder than their opponents.

Calhoun said that Marion running back Corbin Wheeler was the fastest player in the league. Marion used two running backs, Wheeler and Jack Sneider both of whom are swift runners, and used a rushing attack as their primary offense.

The team started practicing in early August, even though they didn’t play their first game until early October. The extra two months of work gave Marion an advantage on the field.

“The other teams didn’t practice. If you don’t practice, you’re not going to be able to compete,” Calhoun said. “I’m not about winning; I make (my team) give 100 percent.”

Calhoun and his assistant coach Jason Wheeler were also keen on teaching his team the fundamentals of football. The coach believes that if he teaches his team the right techniques they will avoid bad habits later.

Calhoun, with the support of many of the players’ parents, wants to start a tackle football league next year to teach tackling techniques.

Still, Calhoun said that the league is about enjoying the game.

“You kind of win by having fun,” he said.