Warriors hold off Dukes for 24-17 win

 By Carol McIntire

Editor

Carrollton jumped on top early and then held off a late Marlington rally for a 24-17 win in Alliance Friday night in the Eastern Buckeye Conference (EBC) opener for both teams.

Going into the game, first-year Carrollton Coach Storm Hill was concerned about the Duke’s passing game but his defense stood up to the test. 

Hill’s defense recorded seven tackles for loss, four sacks, one interception and shut the Duke’s running game down. Marlington gained only two yards on the ground on 21 carries. Surprisingly, the Dukes scored two touchdowns on those two yards.

The Carrollton defense allowed a first down on Marlington’s first possession of the game on an offside penalty on a fourth-down play. It didn’t happen again. Three plays later, the Dukes had gained only two yards and were forced to punt.

Carrollton immediately went to work. Sophomore running back Levi Kiko picked up a quick 20 yards on three running plays to place the ball on the Marlington 33-yard line. When it looked like the drive would end there on a fourth-down play, the coaching staff dialed up a pass play on fourth-and-six. Quarterback Jacob Whitmore dropped back, surveyed the field and found wide receiver Braylen Murphy along the left sideline. The 6-2 senior pulled in the ball for a 33-yard touchdown.

“That play was big for us,” Hill said after the game. “Jake (Whitmore) did a good job. He had pressure and made a great throw. Braylen mad a good catch. It was good for us to get up early.” 

Freshman kicker Paycen Havens added the extra point with 5:37 on the first period clock.

Senior Ryder Varansky intercepted a Marlington pass on the Duke’s next drive to set up a 23-yard field goal by Havens. 

Carrollton led 10-0 at the end of the first quarter.

The Dukes put the only points of the second quarter on the board with a one-yard touchdown by Bryson McCord. The score was set up by a 31-yard pass from McCord to Cole Jones. The extra point kick was good. Carrollton led 10-7 at intermission.

The Warriors played ball control in the second half.

Carrollton took the opening kickoff and methodically drove down the field with Kiko biting off large chunks of ground with each carry. The offensive line opened holes in the middle for the running back to gain 15 yards on his first three carries. Whitmore added two yards and Dalton Sweeney four before Whitmore and Kiko teamed up for an 18-yard reception to the Duke’s 29-yard line. Kiko picked up 27-yards on three carries to the 2-yard line. Sweeney went the final two yards for the score. The extra point kick was clocked. Carrollton was in control 16-7 with 6:10 on the third quarter clock.

Marlington found new life late in the third quarter when they faced a fourth-and-12 on their own 40-yard line. The hosts faked the punt, and McCord threw a strike to his receiver on the Carrollton 36-yard line. The Dukes converted another fourth down play to keep the drive alive and Bryson Jones booted a 31-yard field goal to cut the margin to 16-10 early in the fourth. 

The visitors returned the kickoff to their own 16 yard and mounted an eight minute, 84-yard drive capped off by a 28-yard scamper by Kiko to the endzone. The 2-point conversion was good for a 24-17 lead. 

“We held them pretty well in-check until the fourth quarter,” Hill said. “I put the defense in a couple bad situations I have to make sure I cleanup, so the secondary doesn’t get in binds. Overall, I think they did a good job.”

 The Dukes weren’t done yet. A long pass from McCord to Cameron Evanich placed the ball on the one-yard line and, on the next play Marlington scored. Jayce Zagray added the extra point kick.

Kiko ended the night with 154 yards on 28 carries as the Warriors tallied 230 yards on 42 carries and totaled 292 for the game. Whitmore picked up 68 yards on 10 carries and completed five of 10 passes for 62 yards, his longest the touchdown to Murphy.

The Carrollton defense spread the workload across the board. Josh Rheil was credited with five tackles and two tackles for loss (TFL), Jayven Johnson had five tackles, two TFL and a sack, Hunter Allison four tackles, two TFL and two sacks, Dillon Naylor four tackles, three TFL and one sack and Varansky four tackles and the interception. 

Marlington earned 204 yards through the air on a 15-of 25 performance by McCord.

Carrollton returns to Community Field Friday for the homecoming game against Alliance, sporting a 4-2 record. The Aviators come into the game with a 2-4 record and 1-0 in the EBC after defeating Salem 20-16 last Friday.