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Wolves attacked by Marauders, 35-25
By Kevin Hageland Staff Writer
LEWISVILLE – Flower Mound Marcus had been close several times, but unable to beat Plano West in four attempts.
That changed Friday night as the Marauders used their relentless multi-faceted run attack to wear down the Wolves defense in an eventual 35-25 victory.
“This was very important,” said Bryan Erwin, Marcus head coach. “It was a big game against a great team and I think tonight showed how much we have grown as a program.”
“Marcus plays smash mouth football,” said Mike Hughes, West head coach. “And they are very good at it.”
The Marcus style was in distinct opposition to West, which couldn’t get anything going on the ground. The Wolves, however, opened up their vertical passing game on the second play of the game as senior quarterback Michael Pruneau connected on a 53-yard strike to sophomore Carson Smith. Five plays later Pruneau completed another pass, this one of the 6-yard touchdown variety to senior Blake Baldridge, to make it 7-0 less than three minutes in.
The score remained the same at the end of the frame as Marcus couldn’t convert following a muffed West punt deep in Wolves’ territory.
Scoring from inside the West 35-yard line was difficult for Marcus, but scoring from inside their own 35 was not so complex for the Marauders as they put together an 11-play, 67-yard drive to tie the game with 10:15 left in the half.
The finish came from Hopkins, who busted through the seams on his fifth carry of the drive and went 12 yards for the score.
The Wolves fired right back though, once again pushing the ball down the field in quick spurts. Pruneau completed a 24-yard pass to junior Ryan Doyle and a 37-yard toss to Smith to get West in position before putting the Wolves back in front, 14-7, on a 14-yard bootleg with 7:55 remaining in the second quarter.
West was able to overcome its first special teams error, but not so the second go round as another Wolves punt return fumble set Marcus up at the visitor’s 19-yard line. Hopkins did the rest from there as he ran the ball three straight times, the last of which ended with him in the end zone from 4 yards out and a 14-14 tie.
“You can’t play a team as good as Marcus and expect to win with that many turnovers,” Hughes said. “We lost two balls on special teams and that was a turning point in the game.”
The 14-14 tie wouldn’t last the half, despite another West slip up on special teams.
The Wolves had trouble receiving the ensuing kickoff, but Pruneau and the West receivers turned the tide once more as Baldridge got the team moving with a catch and run for 52 yards. West senior kicker Ryan Solano made sure the special teams weren’t all bad for the Wolves as he drilled a 38-yard field goal to set the halftime score at 17-14.
Marcus, perhaps buoyed by the engagement of 2003 graduate Adam Ballard at halftime, took its first lead of the night in the third quarter with a 16-play, 70-yard drive. Hopkins and Newsome did most of the grinding on the drive, but it was senior Brode Boyd that sealed the deal with a 1-yard quarterback keeper to put the Marauders in front, 21-17, with 4:10 left in the third.
“It was important to control the clock because West is very potent on offense and we didn’t want to get into a track meet with them,” Erwin said. “I’m so proud of [Hopkins, Newsome and Mason]; they ran their hearts out tonight.”
Five plays later after Marcus took the lead it was 28-17 as senior J.P. Mayes picked off Pruneau near midfield and Mason ripped off a 46-yard run to the end zone.
But games between Marcus and West almost always stay close and the Wolves cut the gap to 28-25 following a 9-play drive and two point conversion to set the stage for a climactic fourth quarter.
One quarter and one score later, Marcus had its first win against West.
“Whether it’s on offense or defense, we need guys that can make a play when the time calls for it,” Hughes said. “All we can do right now is get back to work, and that’s what we are going to do in the morning.”
Next up for Marcus is Keller Fossil Ridge while West has North Crowley.
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