As music infiltrated his office from a celebratory locker room just moments following Marion's thrilling 50-43 victory over 6A East champion Jonesboro Thursday night at Premier Bank Stadium, Lance Clark couldn't help but crack a joke. “I keep telling people we're the best 4-6 team in the whole state,” said Marion's first-year coach. Following a week where Marion (4-6 overall, 4-3 6A East) forfeited victories against Wynne (24-21) and West Memphis (33-3), Clark's Patriots circled the wagons and jumped Jonesboro (7-3, 6-1) on Senior Night. “I couldn't be more proud of the resiliency and character of our kids these past few weeks,” said the coach. “A lot of things haven't gone our way, and life in general is tough for a lot of them, but I'm so proud of their response.” Marion amassed more than 500 yards and 50 points against Jonesboro, which entered play surrendering less than 10 points per game against league opponents. Senior tailback Cam Anderson carried 38 times for 319 yards and four touchdowns against Jonesboro. Senior quarterback Ben Gerrard celebrated his return to the lineup after missing the past two games by completing 11 of 17 passes for 244 yards and three TDs. “For the third straight week, I thought our offensive line totally dominated the ballgame,” said Clark. “They're blocking it well, and Cam is reading it well.” Marion's fourth victory in five tries against Jonesboro gave the Pats three straight victories in 2021. Marion, the No. 4 playoff seed from the 6A East, will host Russellville or Mountain Home Friday night at 7 p.m. At Premier Bank Stadium. The Pats took control with 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. Jonesboro led 36-29 when Marion took over at its own 20-yard line with 8:08 left in regulation. That's when Gerrard connected with Kaleb Catt for an 80-yard catch-and-run TD to tie the proceedings at 36. On the ensuing kickoff, Marion defensive end Antanius Tiggs stripped Jonesboro's kick returner, leading to a Jeremiah Nichols fumble recovery at the Jonesboro 30-yard line. That's when Marion saddled up its workhorse, as Anderson logged six carries for 25 yards, culminating the drive with a 1-yard TD run to give the Pats a 43-36 lead with 5:50 left in the fourth quarter. Jonesboro penetrated Marion territory on the next drive before senior safety Donavan Brewer recorded his third interception of the season to give the Pats the ball back with 5:06 remaining in the fourth quarter. Anderson went back to work following Brewer's interception, handling six more carries, the last of which a breathtaking 59-yard gallop to glory with 2:09 remaining to swell the Marion lead to 50-36. Jonesboro got within 50-43 when QB Rykar Acebo (26/44 passing for 355 yards and five interceptions) connected with Kavon Pointer (12 receptions for 183 yards and four scores) from 1 yard out to get the Golden Gang within seven with 1:12 remaining. Marion's Donnie Cheers recovered Jonesboro's onside kick attempt to clinch victory. Early on, it looked as though the resilient Pats were going to squander an excellent opportunity to take down the top-ranked Golden Hurricane. Marion penetrated the Jonesboro red zone on its first two possessions before losing a pair of fumbles. Acebo fired first-quarter TD passes to Pointer and Jesse Washington to give Jonesboro a 14-6 lead, but Marion sophomore Amari Lee logged his first varsity interception and returned it into Jonesboro territory on the final play of the first quarter. Jonesboro led 21-13 when Gerrard took advantage of a busted Jonesboro coverage to connect with Cheers for a 70-yard TD toss to bring Marion within 21-20, which doubled as the score at halftime. Gerrard found Catt for a 6-yard score in the third quarter, but the two-point conversion failed to keep Jonesboro ahead 28-26. Dylan Pieri boomed a 35-yard field goal later in the quarter to give Marion its first lead. The 29-28 tally was the score after the third quarter.