By MINDY KEPFIELD

Staff writer

In a season that might have been scuttled by a pandemic, Marion’s senior football players agree they are happy to be taking on their final season as Warriors, even as the team continues to struggle.

The theme for Marion athletics this year is “Stronger Together.”

The boys say coming together as a team has been their biggest challenge and accomplishment.

“Everyone is just focusing on their job on the field,” Seth Lanning said.

Coach Shaun Craft agrees that the Warriors have struggled to trust each other this season.

“Starting a lot of young guys,” he said. “I think sometimes the older guys think they need to help them do their jobs as well as their own.”

Every player is doing a job for the team whether they are directly involved or not, Craft said.

“That might mean getting their film study in for the week and knowing their routes as receivers, taking the correct lead step as a lineman, or staying home on the backside of defense,” he said.

That job has meant putting in their time in the weight room, the boys said.

Lanning, Will Alleven, and teammates agree they fought to get back into good condition after months without sports.

“I was in terrible shape,” Lanning said.

Little mistakes on big plays have undercut the Warriors this year, the boys said.

The team, as a whole, has gotten better at “reading” plays and the players are hungry for their first win against Sterling.

In the meantime, the boys say the atmosphere of uncertainty has taught them to enjoy the little things, because life can quickly change.

“Enjoy the little things and bench heavy,” Lanning said.

Craft says all of his seniors are standouts this year.

“I appreciate the seniors this year, even though we have struggled to get the wins,” he said. “They worked hard all last summer and have kept coming to work every day wanting to get better.”