After a whirlwind 11-month run that included accepting a new job, moving halfway across the state, taking over a team in July before guiding his first squad to a second consecutive semifinal appearance, Lance Clark feels like he can finally breathe. Just in time for the opening of spring football, which kicks off Tuesday at Premier Bank Stadium, home of the Marion Patriots. Marion is one of two schools in Class 6A football to advance to the semifinals in each of the past two seasons, but Clark admits that this year's squad will look a little different than the previous two installments. “We expect to be really young because we have such a big sophomore class,” said the second-year coach. “A lot of times when you have sophomores like that, they don't feel like they have an opportunity to play or they let an older guy kind of take charge. We want guys to come in ready to compete and win a job.” One of the bigger question marks for Clark's 2022 team will be how quickly junior quarterback Ashton Gray performs while taking many of the snaps this spring. “I'm excited to see Ashton as the guy,” said Clark. “How he leads, and how he controls ups and downs. We know about his ability on the field, we just want to see the other stuff.” While Gray is expected to start in the fall, his backup is one of the bigger questions of the spring. Gray started two games and played extensively in two other games last fall when he was the No. 2 signal-caller for the Pats behind senior QB Ben Gerrard. Expect Julian Carter to handle backup snaps at QB this spring and into August. Carter shifted to QB a season ago but missed most of the year with an injury. This spring he's emerged as one of the track team's top performers. “The development of the backup quarterback is crucial because we found out last year that you always need two,” said Clark. “When Ashton started those two games last year, that was a crucial time because we didn't just win the games, we were able to get better and elevate our play on offense.” Clark's staff plans to play the players he has available on both sides of the wall during spring drills to create competition and find the ideal mix of pieces. “There isn't a spot outside of maybe two or three spots where you can just assume guys have a spot, and so far the competition for those spots has been really strong,” said Clark. “On both sides of the ball, I think we have nine or 10 spots open and we want someone to earn those spots.” One of the bigger concerns for Clark's staff is finding a successor to two-year starting center and all-conference performer Hudson Dulli, who graduates later this month. Dulli was “a very good blocker and an excellent communicator,” said Clark. “But the biggest thing was the snap got there every dang time. If the snap is too high or too low, the play is busted from the start.” Junior Carter Benton projects as the only returning starter on the offensive line, though several other candidates played extensive snaps. Marion opens its spring football schedule Tuesday, May 3 at Premier Bank Stadium, with the annual spring game scheduled for Monday, May 23.