MAUMELLE --- The common perception among many is that the 2022 Marion Patriots will be explosive on offense and particularly stingy on defense. One half of varsity action last Friday night at Class 5A power Maumelle confirmed those notions. The Pats scored five touchdowns that covered 15 yards or more at Hornet Stadium, while their veteran defense surrendered zero points and allowed just four first downs during varsity action. The Marion defense dominated despite playing without four projected starters ahead of Friday night's season-opener at Wynne. It added up to a 35-14 Marion victory, while the Pats led 28-0 with its varsity facing Maumelle's varsity for one half plus the first drive of the second half. “We thought we might be a little up and down offensively coming into the game,” said second-year Marion coach Lance Clark. “It took us a minute to gel, and it might take us some more time to gel, still. I was anxious to see what we'd be able to do defensively with some guys out there who we haven't had to count on, but they produced.” The Maumelle contest featured each team's projected starters and backups during the first half plus the first drive of the second half before giving way to backups and younger players. The fourth quarter featured a running clock for juniors and sophomores. Marion's varsity defense produced eight tackles for lost yardage during varsity action, including two from senior end Antanius Tiggs, senior linebackers Carter Waldo and Brian Weatherspoon, and a pair from junior end Cam Brown, including a sack. Brown later recovered a fumble forced by senior defensive lineman Garrett Dickerson that doubled as the game's only turnover. After taking a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter on a 35-yard play-action touchdown pass from junior quarterback Ashton Gray to junior receiver Matthew Kearney, the Marion defense did not allow a first down on three consecutive possessions. The defensive excellence allowed Marion, with just one returning offensive starter, to find its footing. The Pats went five drives without scoring following the Gray-to-Kearney scoring connection, before facing a third-and-26 from their own 44-yard-line late in the first half. That's when Gray dropped back and hit senior Donnie Cheers for Cheers' third reception of the first half. The senior all-conference performer ran to the Maumelle sideline and past a pair of Hornet defenders before pulling away from the rest of the secondary for an electrifying 56-yard catch-and-run and a 13-0 Marion lead with 2:14 left in the first half. Marion forced a Maumelle four-and-out on the ensuing possession to take over on the Hornet 29-yard line. Gray scrambled for 14 yards before lofting a high pass to Cheers in the end zone. Cheers elevated above the Maumelle cornerback for his second touchdown, a 15-yard score. Senior Ben Cherry's third extra point made it 21-0 Marion at the half. Brown's fumble recovery set Marion up at the 50-yard-line on the Pats' first possession of the second half. Gray bolted for 35 yards before sophomore tailback Jalen Smith covered the remaining 15 yards for a touchdown with 9:48 left in the third period. Sophomore Carson Catt capped the scoring with a 69-yard touchdown run on a read option with 2:33 left in the fourth quarter. Maumelle's touchdowns came on broken plays in the third and fourth periods, which mostly featured juniors and sophomores. “Maumelle is a very talented team, and I thought we executed quite well,” said Clark. “We ran a lot of different stuff, which isn't easy for younger guys to execute, but they did an awesome job.” Gray completed six of 12 passes for 121 yards and three touchdowns, and he paced the Pats with four rushes for 62 yards. Smith ran 14 times for 52 yards and a score. Cheers snagged four passes for 80 yards and two TDs. Marion opens its 2022 regular season on Friday night at old rival Wynne. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. That contest will be broadcast on MarionPatriots.com and on the Marion Patriots Activities Network mobile app.