PARAGOULD --- No matter where you looked during Friday night's 34-8 Marion victory at Greene County Tech, you saw yet another example of the age-old football philosophy of “next man up.” Junior linebacker Dewayne Williams topped the Marion tackle chart at Star linebacker, filling in for four-year starting linebacker Carter Waldo. The Marion defense allowed just one touchdown at Tech, the Eagles' eight points representing the fewest Marion has allowed in a game since barring West Memphis from the end zone in a 33-3 victory on September 24, 2021. The Patriot offense manufactured four touchdowns and a pair of Ben Cherry field goals, thanks in large part to sophomore tailback-turned-quarterback Jalen Smith, who recorded 234 yards and three touchdowns in three quarters in relief of the injured Ashton Gray. When Smith left in the fourth quarter with an injury of his own, the Marion offensive line stepped up without starters Carter Benton and Carius Curne and helped the visitors salt away a road victory by creating creases and keeping the Pats on schedule. Marion improved to 3-1 overall with the win at Tech (1-3 overall, 0-3 6A East), and the Pats are 3-0 in league play for the first time since 1989. “The story of this game certainly is the depth with key guys stepping up and helping us win,” said Marion coach Lance Clark. “We aren't the 1984 Chicago Bears, when you lose so many key guys who are out or even playing hurt, there's going to be some drop-off, but honestly we handled it very well. We can certainly play better, but I was proud of this group because we showed a lot of fight.” The fight seemingly began on Tuesday, when Marion coaches found out that Gray would miss the Tech contest with an injury. Clark and offensive coordinator Zach Tribble tabbed Smith to slide in as signal-caller after he started four games a season ago in junior high. All the heady sophomore did in his first series at QB was guide Marion on a 14-play, 51-yard drive that culminated when he hooked up with Donnie Cheers for a 4-yard touchdown that gave the Pats a 7-0 lead that doubled as the score after a quarter. Smith has made a name for himself so far this season as a standout tailback, and he was up to his old tricks again at QB. On the second play of the second quarter, Smith took the snap and eluded several Tech defenders as he darted to the end zone for a 30-yard scoring sprint that pushed the Pats ahead 14-0 with 10:51 left in the first half. “I've told anyone who will listen that Jalen Smith is a special player and person,” said Clark. “He's instinctive, he's gutty, and we trust him. He made a ton of big plays tonight.” That's when Tech responded with its most prosperous drive of the night, covering 71 yards in seven plays, and finding the end zone when senior QB Camden Farmer ran 10 yards for a TD. Farmer added the two-point conversion to work within 14-8. Marion bounced back with a blue-collar drive, mixing run and pass to invade the Tech red zone, where Marion got a 34-yard field goal from Cherry for a 17-8 advantage with 4:46 left in the quarter. Following an Eagle punt, Marion took control of the game for good when the Pats took over with 2:38 left in the second and marched to the Tech 29-yard line. Facing fourth-and-21 with 28.3 seconds remaining, Smith lofted a pass towards the end zone in the direction of Cheers, who high-pointed the ball and completed the catch for a highlight-reel catch that gave Marion a 24-8 lead at halftime. “We needed that to feel like we were in control of the game,” said Clark. “Donnie scoring a couple of times and reminding everyone what he's about was really big for us and for him.” Opening the second half with the ball, Tech put together a clock-killing drive in a final attempt to get back into the game. The Eagles drove 57 yards in 14 plays ahead of a third-and-five when the Marion defense slammed the door. On third down, Williams swatted down a Farmer pass that was directed at an open receiver. On fourth down, Farmer kept and ran up the middle until Marion senior defensive lineman Garrett Dickerson corralled him two yards short of the line to gain. In all, the Tech drive lasted eight minutes, 35 seconds, only for the Eagles to come up shorthanded. The 24-8 Marion lead held up after three quarters. Smith ran for eight yards on the first play of the fourth quarter before leaving with a lower-body injury. He left the game and did not return. That's when junior Jamar Foster took center stage as Marion's featured 'back, running three times for 52 yards, including a 15-yard TD rush, to give Marion a 31-8 lead with 9:24 left in regulation. Senior Jakobe Smith intercepted Farmer's pass on the very next play from scrimmage and Marion cashed in the turnover five plays later when Cherry boomed a 23-yard field goal to cap the scoring with 7:00 remaining. Promising Marion sophomore defensive back Kendrick Cauley recorded his first career varsity interception to end Tech's final push. WHAT'S NEXT? Marion hosts Class 6A power Benton (2-2 overall, 2-1 6A East) on Friday night for a 7:00 kickoff at Premier Bank Stadium. Tickets cost $5, and that contest will be broadcast live on MarionPatriots.com and on the Marion Patriots Activities Network. INJURY UPDATES Clark and staff expect to get health updates on several starters early this week. WINNING STREAK Marion won its seventh consecutive meeting with Greene County Tech on Friday night. The Eagles last pasted the Patriots in 2001 by a 33-21 tally at Eagle Stadium. The Patriots ended that season on a nine-game losing streak. DOUBLE-DIGIT WINS? Marion's 49-18 homecoming victory two weeks ago over Jacksonville was Clark's 10th victory at Marion. Well, sort of. Clark's first Marion team finished 8-5 on the field a season ago, but the Arkansas Activities Association forced the Pats to forfeit victories over Wynne and West Memphis last October. The Alabama native's official record at Marion sits now at 9-8, and 11-6 on the field. PATS STAY HOT Marion has won eight of its last 10 games dating to last season. The run started with a 38-24 homecoming victory on October 22, 2021, and they ripped off five consecutive conquests, which carried Marion into the semifinals for the third time in school history where eventual Class 6A state champion El Dorado eliminated Marion. Marion dropped its 2022 season opener in August at Wynne 21-10, but the Pats have won their last three outings, including a 27-23 victory over El Dorado in the home opener. 6A EAST RESULTS Marion 34, Greene County Tech 8* Benton 56, El Dorado 28 Sheridan 49, Jacksonville 0 LR Catholic 42, Searcy 21 West Memphis 35, Sylvan Hills 16 6A EAST STANDINGS SCHOOL CONF. RECORD TIEBREAKER POINTS Marion 3-0 30 LR Catholic 3-0 39 W. Memphis 3-0 33 Benton 2-1 26 Sheridan 2-1 17 El Dorado 1-2 13 Searcy 1-2 6 Greene County Tech 0-3 Jacksonville 0-3 Sylvan Hills 0-3 WEEK 5 6A EAST SCHEDULE Benton at Marion Jacksonville at Greene County Tech West Memphis at LR Catholic Sheridan at Sylvan Hills Searcy at El Dorado