Second-ranked Olpe reels off 41 unanswered points to down Warriors

For the first time in two weeks, Marion’s football team had a fair chance of victory after the first quarter.

That performance came in Friday’s regular season home-finale, no less, and against Class 1A’s second-ranked Olpe Eagles.  

Warrior quarterback Seth Lanning hit Jaxton Tracy for a 16-yard touchdown, pulling Marion to 7-6 with 4:59 left in the opening frame. 

The failed two-point conversion unfortunately set the tone for Marion for the remainder of the game. 

Olpe reeled off 41 unanswered points, cruising to a 48-6 win, dropping Marion to 1-6 on the season and winless in district play at 0-2. 

Marion, however, faces Bluestem in the regular-season finale Friday, with the winner securing the third seed. 

The Lions were manhandled Friday night with Hillsboro hanging 71 points on them in the first half in a 71-0 cakewalk. 

Olpe had the game against Marion under control by halftime thanks to a 27-point second quarter.

The Warriors finished the night with just 97 yards and two first downs, paced by Calib Mallory’s six carries for a game-high 71 yards. 

After averaging five turnovers a game the last two weeks, Marion trimmed four off its average while forcing an Eagle fumble themselves. 

The Warriors travel to Leon Friday for a 7 p.m. kickoff against the Lions.