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Author: T Ray Henry

Lions’ memorable season ends with a three-set loss to Westville in regional semifinal

On Tuesday, October 28^th, the Marshall High School volleyball team traveled to St. Joseph-Ogden High School to play in the IHSA Class 2A regional semifinal round against Westville High School. The Lions entered postseason play with a record of 22-7, while the Tigers entered with a record of 26-8. These same two teams played one another during the regular season three weeks ago at Marshall, and the Lions came away from that competitive match with a straight set win (25-19, 25-19).

In the regional semifinal, the Lions fell behind early in the opening set by as many as 8 points while Westville jumped out to a 13-5 lead midway through the set. Marshall, which struggled with opponents this season who attacked from both wings that led to a majority of their losses, had trouble defending the outside hitters of Westville at critical times. The only individual points for the Lions in the early going were kills by McKenzie Davis, Avery Cornwell, and Harper Richardson.

Avery Cornwell (10) gets ready to pass as Anna Daughterty (4) looks on.

With the Lions down 13-5, they mounted a charge by outscoring the Tigers 7-1 to get back into the match with the score 14-12 in favor of Westville. The run began when McKenzie Davis and Harper Richardson combined on a big block at the net. Anna Daugherty followed up by serving an ace. Ella Mattas connected on two kills, then McKenzie Davis and Ella Mattas combined on another block for a point to bring the Lions within two as Westville called timeout.

McKenzie Davis scores for Marshall vs Westville.

Down the stretch in the first set, Harper Richardson won a point with a tip, Avery Cornwell scored another kill, and Lilly Ross smashed two kills, but Westville pulled away to win the opener by the score of 25-17.

The second set of this regional semifinal started the same way as the first set, as Westville raced out to a 13-6 lead before Marshall decided it was not going to go down without a fight. Trailing by seven points, Marshall began dialing in hits and blocks, with Addy Ross leading the way with some huge blocks on the right side. Ali Sheets saved three points with magnificent digs along the back row, and Lilly Ross and Harper Richardson scored on tips and kills to bring the Lions back to tie the set at 18. On the next point, Ella Mattas served an ace, then Harper Richardson scored a kill, and suddenly Marshall had life. Lilly Ross snapped a kill for the Lions to maintain their two-point lead at 21-19, then after Westville got a point to make it 21-20, two straight kills by Harper Richardson gave the Lions some breathing room at 23-20. The Tigers hit the next point out of bounds to give Marshall set point at 24-20, and two side outs later, Marshall won the second set 25-21 to send the match to a third and deciding set.

Harper Richardson eyes a kill during regional semifinal vs Westville.

A kill by Ella Mattas and a tip over the net for a point by Addy Ross helped Marshall move out to a 6-3 lead early in the final set. Westville quickly tied it up at 6, then the Tigers moved ahead 8-6 before Marshall’s Lilly Ross and Harper Richardson combined on a block to get the Lions within one at 8-7. On the next point, Harper Richardson won the point with a tip, then she laced a kill down the line to put the Lions up 9-8 as Westville called timeout.

The teams battled back and forth until Westville inched ahead to make the score 15-13 before Marshall’s Ella Mattas scored a kill to get the Lions within one at 15-14. The next few points of the match will be questioned, for what appeared to be a double hit at the net committed by a Westville player wasn’t called (similar to a ball that landed on Westville’s side of the floor but was ruled otherwise), and the Tigers went on to take a 19-14 lead which for all intents and purposes took the wind out of the sails for the Big Red. Westville kept Marshall at a comfortable distance thereafter and won the third set 25-17, winning the match two sets to one. Westville advances to the regional championship match and a date with Tolono Unity, which defeated host school St. Joe-Ogden two sets to one in the earlier semifinal. Marshall ends its season with a record of 22-8.

In the state of Illinois, there are 466 high school volleyball teams. In a one-and-done state tournament at the conclusion of the regular season, only eight teams end their season with a win. Those teams are each of the four class state champions and each of the third-place teams. Each of the other 458 schools end their season with a loss. Although the Lions’ season ended earlier than they wanted, they can take much pride in what they accomplished this season as they took their fans and fellow classmates on a great ride. Marshall’s 22 wins on the season equals the second-most in school history (trailing only the 2011-2012 squad which won 24 matches).

Lilly Ross rises up to drill a kill against Westville in the state tournament.

Lilly Ross finished the season as the top freshman in the entire state of Illinois regardless of enrollment classification in hitting. Harper Richardson finished seventh among all juniors. Both athletes return next year to run it back. Yes, the team must say farewell to graduating seniors Avery Cornwell, Anna Daugherty, Ella Mattas, and Addy Ross, but the Lions program has plenty of athletes to reload rather than rebuild. Ali Sheets looks to be the heir apparent at libero, and Aubree Shaffer and Olivia Strohm will look for quality playing time at outside hitter and middle blocker, respectively. Lauren Richards and Lexi Mason will be important to develop as role players in setting and serving. Those players, along with returning varsity players Harper Richardson, Lilly Ross, McKenzie Davis, Ellie Delp, and Nya Engledow, have what it takes to lead the program for another successful run as Marshall seeks its first regional title in school history.

After a wonderful and memorable season for Marshall volleyball which began back in August, there is no rest for the weary – basketball practice starts Monday. Let’s go!

October 29, 2025
Lions beat Newton 32-15 to earn first playoff bid for Marshall since 2017

On Friday, October 24^th, the Marshall High School football team traveled to Chizevsky Field in Newton to take on the Newton Community High School Eagles in the 2025 regular season finale. The Lions came into the game with a record of 4-4, needing a win against the Eagles (3-5) to become playoff eligible for the first time since 2017. In the previous nine meetings between these two squads, Newton had won all nine games dating back ten years (the two schools did not play during 2020 due to the COVID pandemic). With the Lions playing for what all intents and purposes mounted to a playoff game to get into the playoffs, this game meant much more to Marshall, while Newton was playing on Senior Night and wanted nothing more than to play the role of spoiler.

One more game.

At each game during the season, it became a tradition where a couple assistant coaches stopped by to say hello before the game. Before the Newton game, the coaches said that Marshall had its best week of practice of the whole season, and both said the theme tonight was this: One More Game. Before the arrival of head coach Steve Weber, it’s no secret that Marshall football had a stretch of seasons where the Lions finished winless, and when Weber took over as head coach, the Marshall gridiron program had not won a football game in over four years. In coach Weber’s first year, the Big Red won a game at Olney. That year also happened to be the same year that the current senior class football players were sophomores. Last year, the Lions won two games, and this season they had won four games, putting the team just one win away from making the IHSA state playoffs for the first time since 2017. With one game standing between the playoffs and the season being over, the one thing on the minds of the Lions coaches was One More Game. All they wanted was to get this year’s seniors into the playoffs so they can play one more time after leading the renaissance of Lions football.

And what a night in Newton it was… After a rough start in spotting the Eagles 7 points with just a minute and 31 seconds off the clock, Marshall went on a drive via runs by Lucca Giannavola, Liam Keim, and Kaiden Sanders to get the Lions into the Newton red zone and down to the Eagles 10. Marshall wasted no time thereafter, scoring a touchdown when Lucca Giannavola rushed into the end zone from 10 yards out. Following a Giannavola rush up the middle for the two-point conversion, Marshall led 8-7 with 3:49 to go in the first quarter.

On the ensuing drive for Newton, the Eagles marched down the field, mixing it up on the ground and through the air to score a touchdown and two-point conversion to take a 15-8 lead over the Lions with 7:15 to go before halftime. Without any scoring in the half down the stretch, the teams went to their locker rooms with Marshall trailing by seven.

The second half was an entirely different story for the Lions, who played lights out on defense throughout the final 24 minutes. Newton took the second half kickoff down into the red zone, but Marshall’s defense stiffened and stopped the Eagles on fourth down at the Lions 8.

Liam Keim steamrolls a Newton defender on the way to a first down for Marshall.

The Lions offense methodically marched down the field on runs by Lucca Giannavola, Luke Brodie, Liam Keim, Kaiden Sanders, and Silas Dean as the Lions offensive line dominated in the trenches. The drive culminated in Lucca Giannavola’s 4-yard touchdown run and two-point conversion. With 1:44 to go in the third quarter, Marshall had the lead at 16-15 as those who took the hour-long drive to Newton roared in the bleachers.

On the kickoff following the Marshall touchdown, the ball caromed off a Newton player up front, and Marshall’s Wyatt Geltz pounced on the loose ball to give the Lions a huge swing of momentum. The complexion of the game changed immediately after Geltz’s fumble recovery. Even though the succeeding drive stalled in Newton territory, the Lions showed they were in it to win it.

Newton took the ball after a Marshall punt all the way down inside the Lions 10-yard line in the waning moment of the third quarter. There, the Lions defense played perhaps the best series of the season in keeping the Eagles out of the end zone. On fourth down, a pass down the left sideline was broken up, and the Lions took over on downs at their own seven.

A couple Lucca Giannavola runs on the subsequent drive took the ball out to the Marshall 19 where the Big Red had a first and 10. On the next play, Marshall quarterback Luke Brodie handed the ball off to Kaiden Sanders on a jet sweep around the left side. Sanders broke one tackle and ran into the clear down the left sideline for an 81-yard Marshall touchdown. The two-point conversion was good when Lucca Giannavola threw the ball to Liam Keim at the right pylon, and Marshall now led Newton 24-15 with about a minute to go in the third.

Kaiden Sanders (8) broke open the game at Newton with an 81-yard touchdown run.

With Newton attempting a comeback on their next drive, Marshall’s nickel defense was up to the challenge. The Lions interior line of Boston Rollings, Lachlan Smith, along with Fisher Bishop and Hank Orman, collapsed the pocket, while Josef Stafford and Bryer Jansen were chasing Newton’s quarterback to hurry passes. Marshall’s defensive backs were also rock solid covering the Eagles 5-receiver sets.

It seemed after Kaiden Sanders’ touchdown that the Lions played faster without the pressure of the scoreboard. Coming down the stretch, Marshall kept getting stops, and another Lucca Giannavola rushing touchdown, this one from one yard out, followed by a two-point conversion run around the left side by Liam Keim, put the Lions ahead 32-15 with 3:11 to go in the game. At this juncture, Marshall’s players and fans began to realize that One More Game was coming to fruition,. and there was an audible buzz along the sideline and in the stands.

Once the Lions defense stopped one last gasp by Newton, the Marshall offense took the ball over on downs with a minute to go on the clock. Two kneel-downs by Luke Brodie later, the clock ticked down to zeroes, and the Marshall sideline erupted with a huge win over Newton by the score of 32-15. With the win, Marshall became the fifth team in the Little Illini Conference to become playoff eligible, which for an eight-team conference is remarkable.

Lucca Giannavola (40) led the Lions with 11 tackles against Newton.

Lucca Giannavola led the Lions in rushing with 173 yards on 30 carries and 3 touchdowns. Kaiden Sanders ran the ball twice for 77 yards and a touchdown, and Liam Keim scored two two-point conversions (one rushing and one receiving). Luke Brodie was 7 for 11 in passing for 66 yards. Kaiden Sanders and Liam Keim led the Lions in receiving with two apiece. On the defensive side of the ball, Lucca Giannavola had 11 tackles, while Gavyn Boden, Liam Keim, Silas Dean, and Tevin Cribelar each finished with four.

Marshall (5-4) will play its next game in the first round of the IHSA Class 2A state playoffs this coming Saturday, November 1^st when the Lions travel to Arthur to take on the undefeated ALAH Knights. Kickoff for the game is scheduled for 1:00 PM at Wilson Field, which is located at Arthur High School. Tickets for the game are $8.00 (IHSA pricing) and will only be sold at the gate (cash only). With limited seating at Wilson Field, Lions spectators may want to prepare by packing lawn chairs in their vehicles. Let’s support these athletes by going to Arthur and bringing home a playoff victory.

One. More. Game.

October 27, 2025
Lions volleyball celebrates Senior Night with a thrilling three-set comeback win over Lawrenceville

On Thursday, October 23^rd, the Marshall Lions volleyball team welcomed the Lawrenceville High School Indians to McNary Gymnasium on Senior Night for Marshall seniors Avery Cornwell, Anna Daugherty, Ella Mattas, and Addy Ross. In front of the largest crowd of the 2025 season, which also had the biggest turnout of Marshall students on hand, along with the greatest pep band in Lincoln Land, the senior student athletes were honored with their parents between the junior varsity and varsity matches. These four special seniors have led a resurgence on the volleyball court for Marshall, and along with juniors Harper Richardson, Ellie Delp, and McKenzie Davis, sophomore Ali Sheets, and freshman Lilly Ross in the primary rotation, this year’s team came into the regular season finale with a record of 21-7.

Ella Mattas, Avery Cornwell, Anna Daugherty, & Addy Ross led Marshall to a thrilling 3-set win on Senior Night.

Standing in the Lions’ way were the Indians from Lawrenceville, who have hovered near the .500 mark all season and came in with a record of 16-19. If the campaign for Lawrenceville were to be described in a few words, it would be a story of good Indians, bad Indians. When they’ve been good, they’ve been really good, registering big wins over Casey-Westfield, Robinson, and LIC conference leader Mount Carmel along the way using their outside striking advantage. It certainly got Marshall’s attention when Lawrenceville defeated Mount Carmel last weekend. The Lions expected a battle in a sea of red inside The Mac.

In an absolute electrifying atmosphere inside the venerable old gymnasium on the campus of Marshall High School, the Lions and Indians put on a classic volleyball thriller which for those in attendance will not soon be forgotten. In a back-and-forth affair, each set went down to the wire. The first set was tied at 23 before Lawrenceville scored two straight points to win the set 25-23. Lawrenceville had two match points in the second set, but both times Marshall dug deep and tied it back up. The second set went to overtime with the score tied at 25. This time, the Lions won the next two points, with Ellie Delp scoring a kill on set point to give Marshall the second set by the score of 27-25, sending the match to a third and deciding set.

Harper Richardson soars high above the net to smash a kill during Marshall’s huge three-set comeback win.

After watching their junior varsity squad play in a multitude of three-set matches this season, the varsity squad said, “Why not? It’s Senior Night – let’s play a three-setter, too.” And what a third set it was… The Lions got down by as many as six points in the final set, the latest juncture being with the score 18-12. The Big Red never gave up and marched closer to get within two points at 23-21. Lawrenceville won the next point to go ahead 24-21, but the Lions would not let the Indians get the match winner as Marshall fended off three match points with a kill by Ella Mattas and an ace served by Harper Richardson. With the Lions down 25-24, a tip winner by McKenzie Davis pulled the Lions into a tie at 25 as the home crowd went wild. McNary Gymnasium was simply deafening at this point. The Lions won the next point to go ahead 26-25 when Ella Mattas smashed a kill from the left side to put the Lions one point away from a remarkable comeback win. Avery Cornwell served the next point, and the ball went back and forth over the net with fantastic saves and hits on both sides of the net as the crowd held its collective breath. Lawrenceville finally set up for a kill, but the strike was long, and Marshall began the celebration in winning the final set by the score of 27-25, taking the match two sets to one over Lawrenceville.

After the teams met to congratulate one another after the hard-fought match at center court, the Marshall student section stormed the floor, and the Lions gave their seniors a night to remember. Marshall gets to celebrate for a day, then they turn their attention to the state tournament regional at St. Joseph-Ogden, where on Tuesday night they play Westville in the IHSA Class 2A semifinal round at 7:00 PM. The Lions finish the regular season with a record of 22-7.

Look for the play-by-play match report this weekend in the Marshall Lions Volleyball Facebook page for both the varsity thriller as well as the junior varsity’s straight set victory over Lawrenceville in the final JV match of the season. Photos of both matches will also be uploaded to the Facebook page.

October 24, 2025
Marshall volleyball squads sweep Tuscola as final week of the regular season begins

On Monday, October 20^th, the Marshall High School volleyball teams played host to the Tuscola High School Warriors in a non-conference doubleheader inside McNary Gymnasium. The Lions entered the match with a record of 20-7, while the Warriors came in with a record of 9-16.

After Marshall’s junior varsity squad was extended to three sets, during which they defeated Tuscola’s JV squad 25-11, 19-25, and 15-12, the Lions’ varsity squad came out focused as they continue to prepare for the state tournament which begins next Tuesday. During this match with Tuscola, Marshall overwhelmed the Warriors from all angles while being more active at the net blocking Tuscola strikes throughout the match. In the end, Marshall won the match in straight sets by the scores of 25-11 and 25-14, defeating Tuscola two sets to none.

The Lions got out ahead early in the first set on Harper Richardson’s serves. McKenzie Davis scored on a tip winner, then Addy Ross and Lilly Ross combined for a big block on the right side to give the home team a 3-0 lead. A kill by Lilly Ross later put the Big Red ahead 5-2 before the Warriors tied it up at 5 apiece.

Marshall won the next point on a tip winner by Ella Mattas, then the next thing you knew, Marshall outscored Tuscola 9-1 while Ella Mattas and Addy Ross served to take a commanding 15-6 lead. During the run, Ellie Delp scored a kill, then after two straight aces by Ella Mattas, Lilly Ross scored a tip winner and a kill, then Harper Richardson and Lilly Ross scored back-to-back kills which gave the Lions their huge lead at 15-6.

Marshall steadily built their lead to 15 points to go ahead 22-7 at one juncture, then they coasted to finish out the first set. Harper Richardson led the way during this stretch with 2 kills and 2 tip winners. McKenzie Davis and Ellie Delp combined on a block winner, then Harper Richardson connected on another kill to get the Lions closer to set point. Ella Matttas finally closed the door on the first set when she laced a kill from the left side, and Marshall took the first set by the score of 25-11.

Some tremendous back court play from Marshall libero Avery Cornwell, who led the team in digs, and Ali Sheets, who looks to be the Lions’ libero of the future, kept the Lions in many points when Tuscola strikers managed to get the ball through the blocks at the net. Some lengthy rallies kept the nice crowd in the gym on the edges of their seats.

During the early stages of the second set, Tuscola went ahead 4-1 with Marshall’s only point coming on a McKenzie Davis kill down the middle. With the Lions down 6-4, Ellie Delp smashed a kill and Addy Ross served an ace to knot it all up at 6. On the next point, Marshall’s Lilly Ross and Harper Richardson went up high over the net and blocked a kill attempt by Tuscola to give the Lions a 7-6 advantage. Two tip winners by Harper Richardson gave the Big Red a little breathing room with the score 10-8, then another tip by Richardson followed by a kill by McKenzie Davis maintained the Marshall lead at 13-11.

Addy Ross gets the block at the net. Photo by T Ray Henry.

The next four points in the middle portion of the second set turned out to be the most significant points of the match to keep momentum on the Marshall side. With Lions ahead 13-11, the next serve put in play by Avery Cornwell went back and forth, then Tuscola passed the ball around and set it up for an outside strike. Marshall’s duo of Addy Ross and Lilly Ross leaped high in tandem at the net and blocked the kill to give Marshall a 14-11 lead. On the next point, Lilly Ross and Ella Mattas combined on a big block to keep the point going. The Lions then set the ball high on the left side for Ella Mattas, who drilled the ball to the floor on Tuscola’s side of the court to put the Lions ahead 15-11 as Tuscola called time out.

Coming out of the time out, Addy Ross and Lilly Ross once again combined on a big block for a point, then Harper Richardson dropped the ball over the net for another point to give Marshall a 17-11 lead. From then on, kills by Lilly Ross, Ellie Delp, and Harper Richardson put the Lions one point away from taking the match. On the next point, Ellie Delp put a stamp on the night when she struck a kill to give Marshall a 25-14 win in the second set, and the Lions swept Tuscola two sets to none.

With the win, Marshall improves their record to 21-7 on the season, while Tuscola moves to 9-17.

In the junior varsity match, Nya Engledow served an ace, while Ellie Delp scored a kill in the early going as Marshall ran out to a 7-1 lead in the first set. Lilly Ross registered three kills and Aubree Shaffer struck a kill to give the Lions a 12-6 lead before Tuscola rang off three straight points to get within three at 12-9. The young Lions then hit the gas pedal, outscoring the Warriors 11-1 to make the score 23-10. During the onslaught by Marshall, Lilly Ross served ten straight points, scoring four aces during the run. McKenzie Davis scored two kills, while Ali Sheets made numerous saves along the back line to keep points alive. With Marshall serving at set point, Ali Sheets served an ace, and Marshall took the first set by the score of 25-11.

During the early stages of the second set of the JV match, Tuscola moved out to a 5-0 lead as Marshall had some issues with communication and spacing. When they finally figured it out, the Lions were behind on the scoreboard and playing catch up. Marshall managed to trim the Tuscola lead to one point with the score 13-12, but Tuscola then steadily built their lead back up, comfortably winning the second set 25-19 to set up a third and deciding set. Scoring for the Lions in the second set were Lilly Ross (ace), Ellie Delp (2 kills), McKenzie Davis (2 kills, block winner), Aubree Shaffer (2 kills, block winner), Olivia Strohm (2 kills), and Lauren Richards (ace, tip winner).

In the final set of the JV match, Nya Engledow started the Lions off with an ace, then Ellie Delp put the Marshall side ahead 2-0 with a kill. An ace by McKenzie Davis, followed by another kill by Ellie Delp, had Tuscola calling time out with Marshall ahead on the scoreboard 5-1. Tuscola came back to take the lead 7-6 while the Lions’ lone point was a kill down the middle by Olivia Strohm.

Anna Daugherty. Photo by T Ray Henry.

The Lions came back to tie the set, then they took a 10-8 lead on two Ellie Delp kills. With the two-point lead, Marshall’s Ali Sheets stepped up to the serving line and dialed up consecutive aces to give the Lions a 12-8 advantage. Down the stretch, Marshall got a kill from Aubree Shaffer, a tip winner from Lauren Richards, and a kill by Nya Engledow at match point. With Lexi Mason playing stellar defense along the back row, the Big Red came away with the three-set win 25-11, 19-25, and 15-12 over Tuscola.

Marshall’s junior varsity squad returns to action Tuesday night (10-21-25) at 6:00 PM when the young Lions host St. John’s (Mattoon) for a junior varsity only match inside McNary Gymnasium. Marshall’s varsity squad returns to action when they play their final match of the regular season this Thursday when they host Lawrenceville in an LIC doubleheader. It will be Senior Night for four Marshall volleyball players (Avery Cornwell, Anna Daugherty, Ella Mattas, and Addy Ross) making their final home volleyball appearance. Make sure you’re inside McNary Gym on Thursday night to honor these wonderful student athletes. The junior varsity match begins at 6:00 PM, then after Senior Night festivities, the varsity squad will battle the Indians on the court.

October 21, 2025
Lucca Giannavola eclipses the 2,400-career yard rushing plateau on Senior Night

On Friday, October 17^th, the Marshall High School football team hosted Mount Carmel High School in a Little Illini Conference game at Bush Field on the campus of Marshall High School. The Lions came into the game with a record of 4-3, while the Golden Aces came in with a record of 3-4.

On a scenic autumn evening, Marshall celebrated all the senior class members of the football team, cheerleaders, Marshallettes, marching band, golf teams, and cross-country team. With a senior class of 84, a total of 39 members of the senior class were recognized along with their parents/grandparents. When you include the four senior class members of the Marshall volleyball team, you will see more than half of the senior class is involved in fall sports in some way or another, which in today’s world is noteworthy.

The Lions entered the contest needing one win in their final two games to become playoff eligible for the first time since 2016. When the Lions football program last qualified for the IHSA state playoffs, members of this year’s senior class were in the first semester of the third grade. Looking back on the 2016-2017 school year, this year’s seniors were still trying to navigate their way around North Elementary School.

Facing the Lions in this game was a team that had to win out to qualify for the state playoffs to maintain their impressive streak of postseason appearances, including a Class 3A championship game appearance two years ago. With a loss at home against Casey-Westfield during their previous game, the Golden Aces were faced with missing the playoffs for the first time in a decade. The Lions were going to have to be ready to match the urgency the Golden Aces were going to be playing with.

With Marshall receiving the opening kickoff, Mount Carmel tried a pooch kick. Marshall’s Tevin Cribelar made a nice play to gather in the directional kick at the Lions 40-yard line. After running back Lucca Giannavola ran the ball on first down and was tackled by 5 defenders, Lions quarterback Luke Brodie faked the handoff on second down and ran a bootleg around the left side for a Marshall first down to the Mount Carmel 48. The Lions offense kept moving the ball on the ground, picking up two more first downs while entering the red zone. With the Lions gaining a first down at the Mount Carmel 13-yard line, the Big Red offense was clicking on all cylinders. On the next play, however, the ball fell to the turf and Mount Carmel recovered the ball to end an inspiring drive by the Marshall offense.

Lucca Giannavola (40) went over the 2,400 career rushing yard playeau against Mount Carmel

The Golden Aces began their first drive after the Marshall turnover on their own 13 with 8:04 remaining in the opening quarter. Mount Carmel moved the ball steadily down the field on the ground and through the air, scoring a touchdown with just under a minute left on the clock in the first. After the extra point was good, Marshall trailed 7-0.

The Lions began their next drive at their own 34, and just like during their first drive of the ballgame, the Lions moved the ball on the Golden Aces. Facing a couple fourth downs and short yardage, Marshall got enough push to get first downs. When the Lions were inside the Mount Carmel 30, the drive stalled, and Mount Carmel took over on downs at their own 27 with 7:24 to go until halftime. Mount Carmel then chewed up yardage as well as the clock as they went on a 73-yard drive which ended with another touchdown. The extra point was good, and the teams went to halftime with Mount Carmel holding a 14-0 lead.

The second half was a mirror image of the first half, with the Lions being able to move the ball, but they had nothing to show for it on the scoreboard. As a matter of fact, Marshall did not punt the ball all night until there were just over three minutes left in the ballgame. Meanwhile, Mount Carmel kept pounding the ball throughout the second half, scoring three more touchdowns to win the game by the score of 35-0.

Silas Dean (6) and Lucca Giannavola (40) combine to bring the Mount Carmel ball carrier to the ground.

The Lions have some solid accomplishments to take away from this game. The high-powered Mount Carmel offense did not have a play from scrimmage that gained more than 19 yards all night long, so the Lions defense minimized the big play. Senior running back Lucca Giannavola eclipsed the 2,400-yard mark for career rushing yards on Senior Night, which is a tremendous accomplishment and wonderful memory. Giannavola ended up with 65 yards rushing on 17 rushes. Luke Brodie was 6 for 11 through the air for 68 yards. Gavyn Boden caught two passes to lead the Lions with 32 yards.

Marshall (4-4) now turns the page to Friday night’s regular season finale at Newton. The situation is simple: win the game and you become playoff eligible for the first time in 9 years. Lose and your season, and for this year’s group of seniors, your high school playing career, is over. For all intents and purposes, the game in Newton represents a playoff game for the Big Red – win and advance or lose and go home. After not winning a game during their freshman season, to one win during their sophomore season, to two wins last year in their junior season, to now being one win away from the playoffs, these kids have a chance to make history. Kickoff in Newton is set for 7:00 PM. Be there and watch the Lions bring home a playoff berth.

October 19, 2025
Lions sweep the Warriors on Senior Night at Casey-Westfield

On Thursday, October 16^th, the Marshall High School volleyball squads traveled to western Clark County to take on the Casey-Westfield High School Warriors in a Little Illini Conference doubleheader. Marshall entered the contest with a record of 19-7, while the Warriors came in with a record of 17-9. It was Senior Night for Casey-Westfield, and an alumni volleyball scrimmage between graduates of the two schools to benefit breast cancer awareness.

After the junior varsity squads put on a show with a competitive match, with Marshall coming away with the win in three sets 27-25, 17-25, and 15-10, the varsity teams took to the floor in this Clark County showdown with each school experiencing its most successful season in many years. With both sides already knowing their postseason seedings, opponents, and schedules in the upcoming state tournament, this battle was not only going to decide third place in the conference, but it was also to award bragging rights in the county.

Casey-Westfield jumped out to an early lead in each set, only to have Marshall come back to tie it up in the early stages. The teams would then battle back and forth in front of a large crowd. Neither side wanted to lose this match, but when the dust settled, Marshall came away with a hard-fought, exciting win over Casey-Westfield in straight sets (26-24 and 25-23) to sweep the doubleheader in a vocal, hostile environment which had a tournament feel all match long. With the victory over their rivals, Marshall has now won 20 matches on the season versus 7 losses, and regardless of the results during the final week of the regular season next week, the Lions will finish in sole possession of third place in the LIC. With the loss, Casey-Westfield’s record falls to 17-10.

In the opening set of the varsity match, Marshall’s McKenzie Davis scored the first point for the visitors on a tip winner to tie the set at one apiece. Casey-Westfield moved out in front 4-1 before the Lions got a kill from McKenzie Davis and Ella Mattas and Lilly Ross combined on a block for a point. A kill by Lilly Ross then tied it up at 5. She followed that with another kill, but the Warriors moved ahead 11-6 before Harper Richardson scored a kill and Lilly Ross served an ace to get the Lions within three with the score 11-8. A seesaw battle took place through the middle stages of the first set, with the Lions getting scores from McKenzie Davis with a kill, Ella Mattas with a kill, and Harper Richardson with a tip winner. Casey-Westfield built another 5-point lead to make it 15-10, but the Lions steadily closed the gap with kills by Ella Mattas and Lilly Ross.

The Big Red got it all tied up at 17 for the first time since it was 5-5, then the Lions got kills by Harper Richardson and Ellie Delp to knot it back up at 19. On the next point, Marshall finally saw their first lead of the match at 20-19 when a Casey-Westfield hit went out of bounds. A side out scored for Casey-Westfield tied the set again at 20, but a Marshall side out, followed by a tip winner by Harper Richardson, gave the Lions a two-point lead at 22-20. The play went back and forth until the Warriors tied it again at 23 before Marshall’s McKenzie Davis blocked a kill for a huge point that put the Marshall side ahead 24-23 and needing one more point to win the opening set.

Casey-Westfield got the next point to tied it up again at 24, but consecutive kills by Marshall’s Lilly Ross put the Lions over the top to win the opening set by the score of 26-24.

Marshall started the second set slowly, spotting the home side 4 straight points before the Lions got on the scoreboard. Two kills by Lilly Ross wrapped around a block winner by Lilly Ross and Ellie Delp gave the Lions their first lead of the set at 6-5. Lilly Ross and Addy Ross then combined on another block winner to move the Big Red ahead 7-5 before Casey-Westfield evened the set at 7 by winning the next two points.

Lilly Ross (6) lines up to smash a kill through the Casey-Westfield block during Marshall’s big win.

The Lions then fed Lilly Ross, for whom Casey-Westfield had no answer at the net. Ross scored three straight points on two kills and a tip winner to give Marshall a 10-7 lead. Another point gave the Lions a four-point lead at 11-7. After the Warriors scored a point to get the score to 11-8, another Lilly Ross kill gave Marshall a 12-8 lead. Aces served by Harper Richardson and Ella Mattas, as well as a kill by McKenzie Davis and another kill by Lilly Ross, highlighted a Marshall run which gave the Big Red a 21-14 lead.

With the Lions four points from taking the match, Casey-Westfield went on an 8-1 run to tie the set at 22. On the next point, Casey-Westfield scored to take a 23-22 lead as Marshall called time out and the home crowd erupted. On the next crucial point, Marshall tied it up at 23 when the Warriors serve went out of bounds. With the score all tied up at 23, Marshall’s Lilly Ross calmly stepped up to the serving line and scored an ace to give the Lions a 24-23 lead. On the next point, the ball went back and forth over the net, with both teams making saves. The point ended when Marshall’s Harper Richardson tipped the ball over the net, and the ball landed in bounds to give the Lions a 25-23 win in the second set, giving the Lions the match two sets to none over Casey-Westfield, spoiling the Warriors Senior Night festivities.

In the first set of the junior varsity match, Marshall got scores from Olivia Strohm (kill), Ellie Delp (kill and a tip winner), and Lilly Ross (tip winner and a kill) to tie it up with Casey-Westfield at 5. Lauren Richards and Nya Engledow set up the hitters on the inside and outside during this stretch. Kills by Aubree Shaffer and Lilly Ross, as well as an ace served by Ross, gave the Lions an 11-8 lead.

During the middle stages of the first set of the JV match, Olivia Strohm (kill), Ellie Delp (tip winner and a kill), and Lilly Ross (tip winner) scored for Marshall before Ellie Delp served an ace to give the Lions an 18-14 advantage. Lilly Ross then scored a kill to give Marshall a 19-14 lead, then she scored another kill which gave Marshall a 21-15 lead.

Lilly Ross served another ace during a 9-3 Casey-Westfield run which tied the set up at 24. The team tied again at 25 before a Casey-Westfield serve out of bounds gave the Lions a one-point lead at 26-25. Lilly Ross quickly ended the first set with an emphatic kill, and Marshall came away with the first set by the score of 27-25.

In the second set of the JV match, Olivia Strohm once again scored Marshall’s first point with a kill. Aubree Shaffer (2 tip winners) and Lauren Richards scored, and the teams were tied at 7 apiece. From that point on, Casey-Westfield began scoring while the Lions went cold on the court. Kills by Aubree Shaffer, McKenzie Davis, and Olivis Strohm were the only individual points for Marshall as Casey-Westfield won the second set 25-17 to set up a third and deciding set to 15 points.

To open the third set, Marshall’s Nya Engledow served six straight points for the Lions to jump out to a 6-0 lead. Olivia Strohm scored a kill during the run, while Lexi Mason moved into the setter position along with Lauren Richards. The Big Red stretched their lead out to 8 points on a combination block by McKenzie Davis and Lauren Richards, followed by a tip winner by Davis to make the score 11-3. The Lions then stayed out in front through the end, and on match point, Aubree Shaffer put an exclamation point on the set and match with a kill to give the Lions the win over Casey-Westfield in three sets.

Marshall (20-7) returns to action next Monday evening when the Lions host Tuscola in a non-conference doubleheader inside McNary Gymnasium. The junior varsity match is scheduled to begin at 6:00 PM, with the varsity match to follow. With only two matches remaining in the regular season, let’s get big crowds inside McNary Gym to support these student athletes who are experiencing the best volleyball season in many years.

October 18, 2025
Lions roll over Lawrenceville 34-7 as Lucca Giannavola rushes for 208 yards and 3 TDs

On Friday, October 10^th, the Marshall High School football team played host to Lawrenceville High School at Bush Field on the campus of Marshall High School on a picturesque evening in east central Illinois. The Lions came into the contest with a record of 3-3, while the Indians came in with a record of 1-5. The Indians’ record, however, belies how they have started games in four of their previous five outings. Beginning with a 22-point win over Carlisle five weeks ago, Lawrenceville experienced early leads in their games versus conference-leader Olney as well as Paris and Robinson before falling behind in those games. Marshall’s mission tonight was to start fast and prevent the Indians from garnering any momentum in this Little Illini Conference clash as the Lions make a playoff run for the first time since 2017.

Boston Rollings (54) leads the way around the edge for Marshall against Lawrenceville. Photo by T Ray Henry.

Lawrenceville won the opening coin flip and elected to defer to the second half, so the Lions elected to receive the ball. Silas Dean caught the kick at his own 2-yard line and brought it back to the Marshall 26 where they began their opening drive. On the first play from scrimmage, Marshall ran a counter with Liam Keim over the right side, and Keim brought the ball out to the Lions 34-yard line where they had a second-and-2. On the next play from scrimmage, Marshall’s Lucca Giannavola took the handoff and ran the ball through the right side while carrying a Lawrenceville defender all the way to the Indians 45 for a first down. With that 21-yard run, Giannavola went over the 1,000-yard mark in rushing on the season.

After the Lions were brought back to midfield, they faced a third-and-14 from the 50. A handoff to Lucca Giannavola went up the middle for 41 yards to the Indians’ 9-yard line and a Marshall first down. Giannavola then plunged the ball down to the 1 before quarterback Luke Brodie ran it in for a Marshall touchdown. After the two-point try was good when Lucca Giannavola ran it in on the right side, and with 8:31 to go in the first quarter, Marshall led 8-0.

Lawrenceville began their first drive on their own 32 after the Marshall touchdown and two-point conversion, and the Indians went three-and-out. Marshall’s Gavyn Boden made a nice fair catch on a wobbler at the Lions 32-yard line where they began their second possession of the game. Marshall mixed it up in the running game to work the ball down into the red zone through the end of the first quarter into the start of the second, but the drive stalled at the Lawrenceville 9-yard line where Marshall turned the ball over on downs.

After Lawrenceville couldn’t get anything going on their next drive, they punted the ball back to the Lions. A carom on the punt hit the turf, and Kaiden Sanders jumped on the ball for Marshall to prevent a costly turnover. With 9:20 to go in the first half, Sanders prevented Lawrenceville from capitalizing and looking for the equalizer. After a short gain, Marshall quarterback Luke Brodie launched a deep pass down the left sideline to Kaiden Sanders, who was draped all over by Lawrenceville’s 6’4” Jacek Mickiewicz. Sanders jumped up, twisted his body to shield the defender, and caught the pass for a big gain down to the Lawrenceville 14. Three plays later, Lucca Giannavola ran it in from 7 yards out. After the two-point try was no good, Marshall led 14-0 with 7:35 to go until halftime.

Bryer Jansen strips the ball from the Lawrenceville ball carrier. Photo by T Ray Henry.

On the ensuing drive, Lawrenceville looked to start throwing the ball. On first down, Marshall’s Bryer Jansen sacked Lawrenceville quarterback Blayton Gossett for a loss. A penalty on the Lions moved the ball to midfield, and a pass play to the Marshall 37 gave the Indians a first down. A tackle for a loss by Bryer Jansen, followed by an unsportsmanlike penalty on Lawrenceville got the Indians behind the chains back to the Lawrenceville 45. On the next play, Lawrenceville tried to get a big chunk of yardage back, but Marshall’s Kaiden Sanders intercepted Gossett’s pass at the Marshall 36 with 4 ½ minutes to go in the half.

With the Lions facing a third-and-3 from the Marshall 43, Luke Brodie took the snap with an empty backfield and lofted a pass downfield to Bryce Griguhn, who caught the ball and ran all the way to the Lawrenceville 37. Kaiden Sanders then ran a jet sweep down to near the red zone. A couple catches by Gavyn Boden brought the ball down into the red zone. The Big Red then ran behind their offensive line, first with Liam Keim, then with Lucca Giannavola into the end zone from one yard out. With the extra try no good, Marshall led 20-0 with 21.6 seconds to go before the half.

On their first possession of the second half, Lawrenceville went on a touchdown drive which took 5:01 off the clock in the third quarter, and with Marshall leading 20-7, the Lions took over on their own Lawrenceville 42 after a big kickoff return by Gavyn Boden, who caught the kickoff at the Marshall 21. Luke Brodie scrambled to the Lawrenceville 30 on first down to give the Lions a first down. Lucca Giannavola then took a handoff on the next play, and he broke two tackles before carrying an Indians defender into the end zone for a touchdown. Marshall now led 26-7 with 6:03 to go in the third quarter.

The Lions stopped Lawrenceville on the next drive, and the Big Red took over at their own 10-yard line. A 58-yard catch and run by Liam Keim got the Lions out from the shadow of their own end zone. On the next play, Lucca Giannavola rushed off tackle on the right side inside the red zone. A change of pace at running back with Silas Dean tested the perimeter defense of the Indians, and Dean rushed the ball into the red zone when he outraced the Lawrenceville defense to the pylon from 2 yards out. On the two-point try, Luke Brodie connected on a pass to Kaiden Sanders, and with 2:42 to go in the quarter, Marshall led 34-7.

From that point on, the Lions were content to chew up yardage and the clock, and in a fast fourth quarter, no more scoring by either side brought the clock down to zeros. The final score was Marshall 34, Lawrenceville 7.

The Lions dominated in all phases of the contest, outgaining Lawrenceville 440-145 in total yards, and they never punted. Senior running back Lucca Giannavola rushed the ball 26 times for 208 yards and three touchdowns. He now has 19 total touchdowns on the season, 17 of them on the ground. On his first carry from scrimmage, Giannavola passed the 1,000-yard plateau in rushing for the season. Sophomore quarterback Luke Brodie was 5 for 9 through the air for 129 yards. On the defensive side of the ball, Lucca Giannavola led the team with 10 tackles, while senior linebacker Liam Keim finished with 9.

For this year’s senior class, which began their collective high school careers in 2022 by going 0-9 during their freshman season, they won Marshall’s first game in over four years during their sophomore season, then they won two games last year, these Lions are now one win away from playoff eligibility with two games to go in the regular season, which is a remarkable turnaround.

Marshall (4-3) returns to action Friday night, October 17th, when they host Mount Carmel at Bush Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM. Prior to the game, Marshall senior athletes from the football team, cheerleading squad, Marshallettes, marching band, golf team, and cross-country team will be recognized along with their parents beginning at 6:30. Win or lose, after the game, Marshall’s football players will participate in the traditional class walk from end zone to end zone as part of the Lions’ Senior Night activities.

October 12, 2025
Volleyball Lions Prove They Belong Among LIC’s Best in Three-Set Battle with Newton

On Thursday, October 9^th, the Marshall High School volleyball team hosted the four-time reigning LIC champion Newton Eagles in a Little Illini Conference match inside McNary Gymnasium on the campus of Marshall High School. The Lions brought a record of 19-6 into the match, coming off a win at Red Hill on Tuesday night. Newton, which has won or shared the LIC conference crown every year since COVID, came in after having their 13-straight conference match winning streak snapped on Tuesday night by Mount Carmel. The Eagles were looking to bounce back in the win column.

This match was played in front of a big crowd, replete with the Marshall High School pep band and drum line. The Marshall student section showed up with its largest attendance of the season to cheer on this year’s edition, which has been very successful as they look forward to the state tournament. This battle was also played to determine who would remain in first place in the conference race as the LIC title remains in the balance. Both teams found out earlier in the day their seeding assignments in the IHSA Class 2A state tournament later this month. Marshall was awarded a 3-seed in the Clinton sub-sectional (B), while Newton was awarded with a 4-seed in the Benton sub-sectional (A). Pairings, sites, and dates/times will be announced later today.

In the first set of the varsity match, Newton broke out to a 4-2 lead before Marshall outscored the Eagles 8-1 to take a 10-5 lead as Newton called timeout. Harper Richardson scored two kills and a tip winner, while Lilly Ross served an ace. The Lions maintained their 5-point lead when McKenzie Davis scored a kill to make the score 11-6, then Davis and Harper Richardson combined on a block for a point to extend the Lions lead to 6 with the score 14-8. Richardson stepped up to the serving line and promptly served an ace to extend the Marshall lead to 7 points at 15-8.

Harper Richardson (3) smashes a kill through the Newton blockade. Photo by T Ray Henry.

Kills by Lilly Ross and Ella Mattas helped the Lions move ahead 18-9 as the Marshall crowd was ecstatic. Newton responded by reeling off 5 straight points to close the gap to four points with Marshall still leading 18-14. Addy Ross and Lilly Ross combined on a huge block for a point to give the Lions a little breathing room with the score 20-15 before the Eagles trimmed the Lions lead to three with the score 20-17.

An important rally ended when Harper Richardson and Lilly Ross combined on a block winner, and Marshall once again had a 4-point lead with the score 21-17. Newton would not quit, for the Eagles came back within three before Harper Richardson smashed a kill to give Marshall a 22-18 lead. Richardson and McKenzie Davis combined on a block to score another point for the Lions, who now led 23-18. A kill by Ella Mattas brought the Lions to set point, and on Harper Richardson’s next serve, Newton hit the ball out of bounds, and the Lions came away with the first set by the score of 25-20.

Marshall had a prime opportunity to win the match in straight sets when the Lions battled back from behind to take a 14-12 lead. Ella Mattas, Harper Richardson, Lilly Ross, and Ellie Delp kept the Lions close, then a tip winner by Harper Richardson, a kill by McKenzie Davis, and another kill by Richardson had Newton on their heels and the Marshall student section in a frenzy. Unfortunately for the home fans, the Lions were outscored 13-4 the rest of the way in the set, which was won by Newton 25-18, and suddenly the match was all square at one set apiece.

In the third and deciding set, the same issues that plagued the Lions in the second set came to the forefront again in the final set. With the set tied up at 12 as a result of scintillating play on both sides of the net, Newton outscored Marshall 13-7 to win the third set 25-19, taking the match two sets to one. Scoring for the Lions in the third set were Harper Richardson, Lilly Ross, McKenzie Davis, Anna Daugherty, Ella Mattas, Avery Cornwell, and Ellie Delp.

Anna Daugherty (4) returns a serve during Marshall’s three-set match vs Newton. Photo by T Ray Henry.

Addy Ross and Harper Richardson set wonderfully to get the ball in position for strikers on both sides of the court. The back court of Avery Cornwell, Ali Sheets, and Anna Daugherty kept the Lions in many points, and hitters Lilly Ross, Ella Mattas, McKenzie Davis, and Ellie Delp were dialed in. This match will help the team as they move forward in the season knowing they competed with the best the conference has to offer, and if some breaks went their way, the Lions would have come away with a victory. As they enter the final two weeks of the regular season, the goal is to be playing their best volleyball now as they go into state tournament play.

In the junior varsity match, which preceded the varsity contest, the young Lions shook off the cobwebs exhibited in Red Hill and played much better together. In the first set, the teams went to overtime before Newton pulled ahead and won the set 29-27. In the second set, Newton outscored Marshall 25-18 to win the match in straight sets.

Scoring for the junior varsity against Newton were Lilly Ross, Olivia Strohm, Lexi Mason, McKenzie Davis, Ellie Delp, Ali Sheets, Aubree Shaffer, and Lauren Richards.

Marshall (19-7) returns to action next Thursday, October 16^th when the Lions travel to Casey to take on the Casey-Westfield High School Warriors in an LIC doubleheader. The junior varsity match begins at 6:00 PM, with the varsity match to follow.

October 10, 2025
Volleyball Lions split doubleheader at Red Hill – Varsity sweeps the Salukis, JV falls in 3 sets

On Tuesday, October 7^th, the Marshall High School volleyball teams traveled to Bridgeport to play the Red Hill High School Salukis in a non-conference doubleheader inside the Red Hill Junior High School gymnasium. Marshall’s varsity squad came into the match with a record of 18-6, coming in off a big win in straight sets over Westville the night before. Red Hill came in with a record of 3-16. The Salukis were coming in off a win over Union Dugger the night before in three sets.

From the opening serve by Red Hill when Marshall’s McKenzie Davis scored the first point of the match with a tip winner over the net, Marshall started a 9-0 run to start the opening set as Harper Richardson served four aces during that span.

McKenzie Davis scores early against Red Hill. Photo by T Ray Henry.

Marshall would stay comfortably out in front and build on their 9-0 lead throughout the middle portion of the set. Three kills by Lilly Ross, a combination block by Lilly Ross and Ellie Delp, a kill by Delp, and a kill by Harper Richardson gave the Lions a 20-4 advantage heading into the final stretch of the first set.

From that point, the Lions coasted to finish the first set on kills by Harper Richardson and Ella Mattas, an ace served by Lilly Ross, and a tip winner by Ellie Delp. With Marshall winning the first set by the score of 25-7, the Lions looked to the second set to work on their net play, passing, and setting.

During the second set of the varsity match, a kill and serving ace by Harper Richardson pushed the Lions out to a 2-0 lead. Red Hill, however, responded by scoring three straight points to take their first and only lead of the match with the score 3-2. A tip winner by Richardson evened the set at three apiece, then Marshall went on a 10-3 run to take a 13-6 lead midway through. During the run, Lilly Ross scored two kills, while McKenzie Davis and Ellie Delp each scored a kill. Lilly Ross also served an ace as Marshall continued to put pressure on Red Hill’s defense.

Tip winners by Harper Richardson and Lilly Ross, as well as a kill by Ella Mattas, maintained Marshall’s seven-point lead with the score 17-10. After a side out in favor of Red Hill to make the score 17-11, Marshall’s Lilly Ross scored again for the Lions when she smashed a kill from the middle of the front row.

Ellie Delp wins the point at the net for Marshall against Red Hill. Photo by T Ray Henry.

With the score Marshall 18, Red Hill 11, Ella Mattas stepped up to the serving line for Marshall, and she served the Lions all the way to match point with the score 24-11. Mattas served three aces, and Lilly Ross scored on a kill. Red Hill got a side out and scored three points to make the score 24-15, but Marshall’s Lilly Ross ended the match when she scored a kill to end the set with Marshall winning by the score of 25-15. In the end, Marshall defeated Red Hill in straight sets to improve their record to 19-6.

In the junior varsity match, Marshall’s young Lions could never generate any momentum throughout the match, and for the first time in weeks, Marshall struggled with passing, communicating, and setting. All three sets were close, but in the end, the junior varsity squad fell to the Salukis 25-22, 21-25, and 15-12.

The Lions return to the court this Thursday night when they host Newton in a pivotal conference match inside McNary Gymnasium. With both squads tied in the conference standings, this match will go a long way in deciding the conference title. Junior varsity action begins at 6:00 PM with the varsity match to follow. Let’s get a big crowd to McNary Gymnasium and cheer on these student athletes!

October 8, 2025
Lions give Casey-Westfield a huge battle as the team continues to build the foundation

On Friday, October 3rd, the Marshall High School football team traveled to the western edge of Clark County to play Casey-Westfield High School in a Little Illini Conference game at Sinclair-Vidoni Field in Casey. Marshall came into the game with a record of 3-2, while Casey-Westfield, ranked #5 in IHSA Class 1A, came in with a record of 5-0.

Kaiden Sanders caught 2 touchdown passes vs Casey-Westfield.

After Casey-Westfield scored early in the contest to take a 7-0 lead, the Lions fought back and scored a touchdown when Lucca Giannavola ran the ball in from 1 yard out. After the conversion try was no good, the Lions trailed 7-6. On the kickoff immediately following Marshall’s touchdown, the Lions’ Trip Gaines pulled off a perfect onside kick and the Lions recovered the football. The Lions proceeded to run through the Warriors defense like no other team had done thus far this season. Marshall drove the ball all the way down the field and scored a touchdown when Lucca Giannavola plowed in from 2 yards out. A two-point conversion pass by Giannavola to Liam Keim was good for a score, and all of a sudden, the Lions led the Warriors 14-7 as the home crowd sat in stunned silence.

The final two minutes of the first half alone were worth the price of admission, with the two teams combining for 25 points in quick succession. Marshall had the ball after starting a drive at their own 11. The Lions worked the ball out to the 33 where they faced a third down and four yards to go. Lions quarterback Luke Brodie faked a hand-off and threw the ball to Kaiden Sanders on a slant pattern. Sanders caught the ball in stride and weaved his way across the field. Once he hit the edge, Sanders outran the entire Casey-Westfield defense for a 67-yard touchdown. A counter-play on the two-point conversion by Liam Keim was good, and with 1:45 left before the half, Marshall was ahead 22-7.

A run by Casey’s Nolan Clement on a quarterback keeper gave the Warriors the ball in Marshall territory. Another run put the Warriors on the Lions 27 before a holding call on Casey-Westfield moved the ball back to the Marshall 37. As the clock winded down under a minute, the Warriors scored a touchdown. With the two-point conversion good, the Marshall lead was 22-15 with 57 ticks left on the clock until halftime.

On the ensuing kickoff, Marshall’s Silas Dean fielded the kick at his own 9-yard line. Dean followed his blockers up the middle, then he sprinted to an opening on the right side where he had just one man to beat. He bolted past the Casey-Westfield kicker and outran everyone to the house for another Marshall touchdown. After the two-point try was no good, Marshall led 28-15 with 45 seconds to go in the half. A Casey-Westfield 34-yard field goal at the end of the half made the score Marshall 28, Casey-Westfield 18.

In the first half, Marshall gained a total of 330 yards against a Warriors team which had stuffed opponents on the ground, through the air, and in the return game. In the first half, Marshall gained 104 yards on the ground (97 yards and 2 TDs from Lucca Giannavola), 124 through the air (121 yards passing and a TD from Luke Brodie), and a huge 91-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Silas Dean.

On Casey-Westfield’s first drive of the second half, they tried a fake on fourth down in punt formation. Casey-Westfield’s Nolan Clement was stuffed at midfield short of the marker, and the Lions took over on downs. On the first play from scrimmage for Marshall after the turnover on downs, a play-action fake and slant pass from Luke Brodie to Kaiden Sanders brought the Big Red another strike for a touchdown when Sanders outran all the Warriors across the field and down the right sideline to the end zone. With the two point try short of the goal line, Marshall was now out in front of Casey-Westfield 34-18 with 9 minutes and change left in the third quarter.

On the ensuing possession for Casey-Westfield, the Warriors went three and out as the Marshall pass defense didn’t give the Warriors offense a good look. The Lions took over at their own 30 after the punt and return by Marshall’s Gavyn Boden. A first down run by Lucca Giannavola, a second down run by Liam Keim, and a third down run by Giannavola gave the Lions a first down. The drive stalled, however, and Marshall punted the ball back to Casey-Westfield where the Warriors began their next drive at their own 47.

Casey-Westfield scored on a pass play with 28 seconds remaining in the third quarter, and after a two-point try was good, Marshall’s lead was down to 8 points with the score 34-26.

Marshall began the next drive at their own 15. After a Giannavola run, the third quarter ended with the Lions holding an 8-point lead. Marshall couldn’t generate anything on the drive and got behind the chains, so they punted the ball back to Casey-Westfield where the Warriors began the drive in Marshall territory.

A big fourth down and three from the Marshall 21 resulted in a touchdown for Casey-Westfield with 8:36 to go in the fourth quarter. After the two-point try was good, the teams were all tied up at 34.

Casey-Westfield recovered an onside kick on the next play to take over possession at the Marshall 45. They marched the ball down the field and scored a touchdown and two-point conversion to take a 42-34 lead with 7:42 to go on the clock.

The Lions began their next drive after taking the kickoff back to the 22 with somehow no time running off the clock. Two rushes set the Lions with a third down and four at their own 28. Marshall couldn’t convert the first down, and Casey-Westfield took over possession deep inside Marshall territory. Another Warriors touchdown and extra points made the score 50-34 with 3:12 to go.

The Lions continued to struggle generating any momentum, and after most everything went right during the first half and the majority of the third quarter, nothing went right the rest of the way. In the end, Marshall came up on the short end of the scoreboard with the final score Casey-Westfield 50, Marshall 34.

For the Lions, Lucca Giannavola rushed the ball 26 times for 116 yards and 2 touchdowns. Luke Brodie had 5 completions in 7 attempts for 170 yards and 2 touchdowns. Kaiden Sanders caught 3 passes for 131 yards and 2 touchdowns. Silas Dean was brilliant in the kick return game, scoring a touchdown on a 91-yard return which gave the Lions a 16-point lead in the second quarter. On defense, Josef Stafford led the Lions with 10 tackles, while Lucca Giannavola finished with 8.

Marshall (3-3) returns to action Friday night, October 10th, when they host Lawrenceville at Bush Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 7pm.

October 6, 2025