Schropp, Trojans too much for Warriors
Sports reporter
Marion High School football coach Grant Thierolf knew Southeast of Saline was a good, fast, football team, and Friday he wanted to slow them down.
The problem is, that's much easier said than done.
The Trojans, led by quarterback Justin Schropp, controlled the tempo for most of the game, turning out a 50-28 home victory against the Warriors.
"That's not an offense you can get in a race with," Thierolf said of the high-powered Trojans.
That's exactly what the now 6-1 Warriors did at the start of the game.
The Trojans went 82 yards in just six plays on the opening drive, finishing with a 34-yard run by Schropp.
After MHS held on the two-point conversion, running back Casey Nelson pulled the Warriors ahead in the race.
On third-and-seven from his own 47, quarterback Josh Kelsey handed off to Nelson, who started left, cut right, and sprinted his way to a 53-yard score. Jeff Richmond added the extra point, and Marion led 7-6 just four minutes into the game.
The only problem with scoring on the Trojans is you have to give the ball back to them.
In just seven plays on its next possession, Southeast went 75 yards for its second score, a 21-yard pass from Schropp to Nick Hardesty. Once again Marion held on the two-point conversion, but still trailed 12-7 with 5:17 left in the first quarter.
Marion couldn't keep up in the race on its next possession, going three-and-out.
Lineman Emmanuel Jackson cut down the Trojan returner at his own 23 for no gain on the return.
Field position, however, didn't seem to affect the Trojans.
This time they used up more time on the clock with a 13-play, 77-yard drive ending with a two-yard pass from Schropp to Hardesty once again. This time they converted the two-point conversion and now led 20-7.
Marion got the ball on its own six after kickoff and ran one play for three yards. On second-and-seven Kelsey kept the ball and looked to have a big gain.
But Schropp stripped the ball from Kelsey, and scampered untouched into the end zone for the score.
The Trojans now led 28-7 with 10:27 left in the first half.
Thierolf knew turnovers could kill his team against SES, and he stood on the sideline with a stunned look on his face after the play like everyone else rooting for Marion.
"You can't give them a short field," he said. "You can't give them any opportunities whatsoever."
After another Warrior punt, the defense held the Trojans for the first time all game.
After driving to the Warrior 33, Jackson recovered a fumble to give MHS some spark.
Three plays later Marion faced a fourth-and-one on its own 44 with 4:24 to play in the half. Instead of giving the powerful Trojan offense the ball, Thierolf opted to go for it.
But Nelson was stuffed and SES took over.
Five plays later Schropp scored from 12 yards out, and SES led 34-7.
With two minutes to play until halftime, the Warriors looked to run out the clock unless they could put together a big play.
That big play came in the form of Nelson, who zig-zagged his way into the end zone from 51 yards out with just two seconds remaining in the half.
Mr. Big Play had done it again.
"Those two plays kept us in the game," Thierolf said of Nelson's touchdowns. "And the offensive line did a great job."
After SES took a knee, the teams headed into the locker room with the Trojans leading 34-14.
The Warriors looked for a spark to open the second half, but instead it was Southeast who found one.
On the first play of the opening Warrior drive, Nelson was stripped of the ball, and the Trojans had a first down on the Marion 28.
Schropp scored once again, this time from two yards, and SES upped the lead to 42-14.
The Trojans were at it again, forcing a fumble on the Warriors next play, and looking to score again.
But four plays later Richmond intercepted a Schropp pass at the MHS 1-yard line.
A 99-yard against the Trojans seemed impossible to everyone except the Warrior players.
After Nelson gained one yard, Kelsey kept the ball himself and rumbled 53 yards before being tackled, bringing the silenced Warrior crowd to its feet.
Kelsey hooked up with Hett two plays later for 35 yards to move to the Trojan eight. Nelson scored from one yard out on fourth-and-goal to cut the lead to 42-21.
Thierolf was impressed with the long drive.
"Being a coach sometimes is no different than being a parent when your kids face adversity," he said. "And you are proud of them when they respond."
The defense then responded forcing a punt, and giving the Warrior offense life at the SES 40.
After recovering his own fumble on second-and-10, Kelsey faced a third-and-17. He calmly sat in the pocket and hit David DeForest with a 22-yard gain down to the Trojan 11.
Two plays later Kelsey hit Hett from seven yards out. Richmond's kick made the score 42-28 with 9:50 left in the game.
Once the Trojans got the ball they looked to score and ice the cake. Facing a third-and-five at his own 28, Schropp completed an 18-yard pass that moved the chains.
SES chewed up another four mintues off the clock before Hardesty caught his third touchdown pass of the day. The two-point conversion was good and SES led 50-28.
Marion fumbled the ball away on its next possession, and the Trojans ran the clock out.
Schropp threw for 234 yards and three touchdowns in the air. He also ran for three scores and returned a fumble for a touchdown, having a hand in all seven Trojans scores.
"We just didn't get the pressure on Schropp we needed to get on him," Thierolf said. "He's just a good football player, he's run that scheme for 2 1/2 years now."
Thierolf wasn't happy with the game, but was proud of his team's second half response.
"The one thing we asked our kids to do was play as hard as they can. And they did that in the second half," Thierolf said.
Nelson was impressive on the ground, carrying 16 times for 146 yards.
Kelsey was 4-8 through the air for 72 yards and one touchdown. He now has eight touchdowns to zero interceptions on the season.
Russell Ploutz led the defense with 10 solo tackles, and Jackson recorded 11 total tackles and one fumble recovery.
The Warriors face a must-win Friday at home against Hillsboro.
The Trojans lost Friday to Hesston, meaning the loser this week at Marion more than likely will not advance to the state playoffs.
"It's nice to still have a chance to get in," Thierolf said. "Obviously we have to play a whole lot better than we did this week, but the opportunity is still there. I know we are going to come back and respond well after this."
