Staff writer
The Warrior defense dominated from the beginning of the first quarter on Friday in Ellinwood.
Four minutes into the game Colton Johnson dropped back into zone coverage and intercepted a pass from Eagle quarterback Kyle Corbett. Johnson then returned the pick 30 yards for a touchdown.
On the next Eagle possession, Johnson fleeced Ellinwood for another interception. The Warriors drove down into the red zone, and Johnson finished the drive by punching the ball into the endzone for a 7-yard touchdown scamper.
Johnson led the way for an outstanding all-around defensive performance for Marion. Marion forced three interceptions, and a fumble.
Over 41 plays, Ellinwood was only able to generate 73 yards of total offense, or less than two yards per play. The Eagles managed only four first downs the entire game.
“We gave up a 25-yard run and a couple other plays,” Marion head coach Grant Thierolf said. “We were much more aggressive; we came off the ball a lot harder than before.”
Even though the score was lopsided from the beginning of the game, the Warrior offense never really clicked. Three of the regular Warrior offensive linemen were out with injuries and their replacements had a tendency to kill drives with holding and offside penalties.
“Offensive line is one place where you have to have consistency,” Theirolf said. “You have to have those five to six guys playing together all the time.”
The Warrior running game only got going when running back Sheldon Boone ran for a touchdown in the second quarter.
Quarterback Matt Sprowls stepped up, throwing two passing touchdowns in the second half.
The first came on a short pass to Johnson in the flat. Johnson was able to race up the sideline on the right side of the field for 31 yards, carefully eluding a group of Eagle defenders for his third touchdown of the game.
The second TD pass came on a 36-yard post pattern. Mitch Cady was able to break free from the Eagle coverage and catch the lofted ball over his left shoulder in the end zone.
The final Warrior touchdown was scored by Les Rigs on a 4-yard run early in the fourth quarter.
The star of the game for the Warriors was Johnson who filled in impeccably for Drew Maddox at both safety and running back. Thierolf praised Johnson’s instincts.
“He’s just a good athlete who’s got a good sense of football,” he said. “He made great breaks on the ball (for his interceptions).”
Johnson credited his teammates and coaches with his success.
“It was a team effort,” he said. “I just did what I was coached to do.”
individual statistics
Rushing : Sheldon Boone, 16-145; 1 TD; long of 57; Matt Sprowls, 9-41; long of 36; Colton Johnson — 10-25; 1 TD; long of 7
Passing : Sprowls — 2-4 for 67; 2 TDs
Receiving: Mitch Cady, 1-36; 1 TD; 22 Johnson 1-31; 1 TD
Interceptions: Johnson, 2; 1 TD; Eric Vogel , 1
Sacks: Vogel — 2
Tackles for loss: Vogel, 2; Johnson, 1; Nick Klenda, 1; Colten Olsen, 1; Les Riggs, 1