While assessing his team’s performance last week in a 40-14 benefit scrimmage at Class 7A Little Rock Central, first-year Marion coach Lance Clark lays it on the line. “I thought (senior quarterback) Ben Gerrard and (junior receiver) Donnie Cheers Jr. played great, and we need them to play great,” said Clark. “They’ll get all the glory. But ultimately winning and losing comes down to the line of scrimmage, and I felt we won that game because we won the line of scrimmage both ways. I think Central is a good line-of-scrimmage team and I thought our offensive line wore them down.” The offensive line allowed just one sack and paved the way for more than 150 yards at Central, while the Marion defensive line proved disruptive all night, recording three sacks, forcing a fumble, and registering a safety. The Marion staff played several offensive line combinations at Central and “we’re still shuffling,” said Clark. “We had three offensive linemen grade out at above 88 against Central, which is very good. Two of them graded out higher than 90. But we also had two guys down in the 60s and 70s. The offensive line is a family. It doesn’t matter if three are blocking well, if one or two guys miss their block then that’s the guy who makes the play.” Marion welcomes its oldest rival Friday night, when the Wynne Yellowjackets invade Premier Bank Stadium. Marion has played Wynne every season since 1969, and though the Yellowjackets own a 33-11-1 series advantage, a few of Marion’s victories double as some of the more significant wins in program history. Marion’s 1984 conquest of Wynne earned the Pats a share of the 3AAA league title and launched Marion into the playoffs for a second straight season. Wynne embarked on a 20-game winning streak following the 1984 defeat as the Yellowjackets established themselves as one of the state’s premier football programs. That streak came to an end on October 28, 2005, when Marion kicker Jerry Patton booted a game-tying field goal late in regulation and won it in double overtime for a 13-10 victory. That win earned Marion the AAAA-East’s No. 2 playoff seed and an eventual 44-7 playoff victory over Crossett, Marion’s first home playoff game at Premier Bank Stadium. Wynne topped Marion, 35-19, a year ago to spark an 11-game winning streak to open the season. The Yellowjackets overwhelmed the competition before running into eventual Class 5A state champion Pulaski Academy in the semifinals and losing 52-14. All-state senior slotback Carl Washington powers Wynne’s Flexbone. Washington rushed last season for more than 1,300 yards and he boasts 4.6 speed. Wynne returns three starters up front, including all-state guard Tyrell Johnson, a likely D1 prospect, and all-conference linemen Ty James and Burk McBride. “Wynne is dangerous because if you don’t play sound, disciplined, assignment football, then you will lose,” said Clark. “They’re happy to get one yard, or even no gain, because they know they can just as easily get 10 on the next one.” Wynne’s defense, which surrendered three touchdowns or less 11 times last year, also returns four starters. Expect senior Sherod Sparkman to line up at end and tackle, while all-state performers Timmy Watson and Trevon Holmes stand out at linebacker and safety, respectively. Wynne head coach Van Paschal, at least two assistants, and no less than 10 football players will miss Friday’s game due to Covid-19 protocols. NOTES: Seniors Gerrard, Cam Anderson, and Donte Moore are Marion’s permanent team captains this season. They walk out for the coin flip before the game and will be joined each week by Clark’s Green Light Player of the Week and Scout Team Player of the week. Martavian Banks earned Green Light Player of the Week and Kendall Brister earned Scout Team Player of the Week for the Wynne game. Kickoff at Premier Bank Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m. Every football game this fall will be streamed on marionpatriots.com/broadcasts.