WYNNE --- Marion may have lost more than a football game here on Friday night at Yellowjacket Stadium.
The Patriots ripped off three straight touchdown drives in the second half on Friday night, twice getting within one score, but could not get over the hump in a 35-22 loss at Wynne.
Then, on Saturday night, word began circulating that senior tailback Jeremiah Dent sustained a season-ending injury at Wynne, dealing a major blow to Marion's offense.
Dent racked up almost 300 total yards (rushing, receiving and kick return) with a touchdown at Wynne.
Wynne found most of its offensive success Friday night on the ground, but with the game on the line, the 'Jackets won it in the air.
Clinging to a 28-22 lead in the fourth quarter with 1:13 left in regulation and facing a fourth-and-16 at the Marion 35-yard line, Wynne quarterback Curtis Scott hit receiver Grant O’Guin for a touchdown that gave Wynne the final margin in a 35-22 decision over the Marion Patriots at Yellowjacket Stadium.
Wynne tailback Kaden Crawford scored the first 4 touchdowns for the Yellowjackets.
His first scoring sprint came with 1:32 left in the first period and gave the Jackets a 7-0 lead to open the second stanza.
Crawford doubled Wynne’s (1-0 overall) lead with 2:38 remaining in the second period, when he scored from 15 yards out, and Auggie Smith’s extra point gave the hosts a 14-0 lead.
As the Wynne offense moved the ball, Marion (0-1) struggled before halftime, coming up with only two first downs in the first two frames, and Wynne carried that 14-point margin to the halftime lockers.
Wynne embarked on a workmanlike 13-play, 63-yard drive with the third-quarter kickoff, and Crawford capped off the march with a 2-yard TD run with 6:26 left in the third for a 21-0 Wynne bulge.
Marion started moving late in the third when senior quarterback Ben Bateman led the Pats on a two-play, 80-yard touchdown drive, culminating when Bateman connected with Dent for a 58-yard touchdown pass to get Marion within 21-7.
Following a Wynne three-and-out, Marion scored in four plays, hitting paydirt when Bateman hit Chase Davis for a 5-yard TD toss to work within 21-14.
Crawford covered 38 yards for his fourth score with 7:00 left in regulation for a 28-14 Wynne lead.
But Bateman found Drace McGee for a 24-yard touchdown pass, and when Kam Riley added a two-point conversion, Marion was within 28-22 with 4:24 left in the game.
Wynne churned out two first downs ahead of the decisive fourth-down decision.
Wynne’s T.J. Jackson ended Marion’s final drive with an interception.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Marion continues non-conference play Friday night when it travels to play 6A West rival Lake Hamilton at Wolf Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., and you can watch the game for free on the MPAN YouTube channel if you can not attend in person.
6A EAST RESULTS FROM 8/28
Wynne 35, Marion 22
Benton 43, Bryant 42
Sylvan Hills 53, LR Central 34
Jonesboro 14, Cabot 12
Sheridan 70, White Hall 16
Searcy 54, Batesville 13
Valley View 34, W. Memphis 13
El Dorado 23, Magnolia