Tag: Football

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.

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.

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.