SHERIDAN --- Marion coaches were concerned at times during preparation last week about how their team would follow up their team's win two weeks ago over West Memphis. The Patriots responded about as well as one could expect at Sheridan. Marion did just about everything right in Grant County last Friday night, outgaining the Yellowjackets by almost 100 yards, gaining 12 more first downs, winning the turnover battle 2-0, and converting six of 11 times on third down to claim a 43-7 mercy rule road victory in front of a healthy homecoming crowd at Yellowjacket Stadium. Marion improved to 3-0 all-time against Sheridan with its third mercy rule win in as many seasons against the Yellowjackets (2-6 overall, 2-5 6A East) improved Marion to 6-2 overall and 6-1 in league action before the Pats host Sylvan Hills this Friday night for Senior Night. Marion closes its regular-season schedule on November 4 at league-leading Little Rock Catholic (8-0, 7-0). Should Marion beat Sylvan Hills and Catholic, the Patriots would earn at least a share of the 6A East title. Marion sophomore tailback Jalen Smith continued his eye-opening season by rushing 23 times for 160 yards and four touchdowns, while junior tailback Jamar Foster ran 10 times for 49 yards. Junior quarterback Ashton Gray completed 20 of 34 passes for 220 yards, with TD passes to senior wideout Donnie Cheers (eight receptions for 98 yards at Sheridan) and sophomore receiver Mitrell Lewis (three catches for 44 yards). Junior linebacker Victor Turner topped the Marion tackle chart with 11 stops, while sophomores Jaron Davis and Taylin Rucker stacked 10 stops apiece. Senior Carter Waldo logged nine tackles with five solos. Smith started the scoring on the game's initial drive when he darted 8 yards for a TD, and Gray's two-point conversion to Lewis made the score 8-0 with 8:39 remaining in the first. That 8-0 score would double as the tally at the end of the first quarter. Marion took a 16-0 lead early in the second stanza when Smith scored from 4 yards out and Gray ran untouched into the end zone for a two-point conversion with 9:24 left in the first half. Sheridan cracked the scoreboard with 6:02 remaining in the second when QB Jarrett Atchley ran 21 yards for a score, and the extra point made it 16-7. Atchley did not return to action for Sheridan after halftime. Marion's response was swift, as the Pats drove 68 yards in nine plays, culminating when Smith scored from 2 yards out for a 22-7 lead with 2:56 remaining in the first half. The game flipped on Sheridan's ensuing drive when the 'Jackets moved deep into Marion territory with a 45-yard completion from Atchley to Brady Ingram setting the hosts up first and 10 at the Marion 18-yard line. On first down, Marion senior defensive lineman Jerrimiah Nichols recovered an Atchley fumble and returned it to the Sheridan 9-yard line. Gray wasted no time cashing in the turnover as he hooked up with Cheers on first down for a 9-yard score that gave Marion a 29-7 lead at halftime. Cheers has caught nine TD passes over the last five games. A scoreless third period moved into the fourth quarter when Marion again embarked on a long TD drive. The 11-play, 76-yard drive was sparked by Smith, who carried four times for 43 yards, the last tote covering 16 yards for his fourth score. The Pats got to the mercy rule with 4:49 left in the fourth quarter when Gray's final pass of the night found Lewis for a 25-yard TD. WHAT'S NEXT Marion hosts Sylvan Hills this Friday night at Premier Bank Stadium for Senior Night. Senior Night festivities will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by a 7 p.m. Kickoff. Senior Night and the football game will be broadcast live on MarionPatriots.com and on the Marion Patriots Activities Network mobile app. CHEERS CHASING HISTORY With nine touchdown receptions over the past five games, Cheers continues to climb Marion's all-time receiving leaderboard. The senior has caught 22 TD passes in his career at Marion, good for second on the school's all-time list. Collin Chambers caught 24 TD passes from 2014-2016. Chambers owns the school record in receptions (127) and receiving yardage (2,165). Cheers currently boasts a career receiving line of 87 receptions for 1,749 yards with those 22 TD catches. NO MERCY Marion has recorded mercy-rule victories in each of its past two road games. The Pats pounded Searcy 57-28 on October 7, and Sheridan 43-7 last week. The victories doubled as Marion's first two mercy-rule wins this season. Marion has recorded four mercy-rule victories in Coach Lance Clark's two seasons. INJURY WATCH Marion surrendered just seven points and forced two turnovers at Sheridan without starting linebacker Dewayne Williams, who has a hand injury. Starting inside 'backer and leading tackler Brian Weatherspoon did not play after halftime at Sheridan. SPREADING THE WEALTH Gray's 20 completions went to four receivers outside of Cheers's eight catches for 98 yards. Junior slot receiver Matthew Kearney snagged a career-high eight passes for 69 yards, while Lewis checked in with three catches for 44 yards and a score. Emerging sophomore tight end Cameron Garrett caught a key third-down pass to extend a drive for the second straight week when he collected a nine-yard pass in the first quarter. SURGING SOPHOMORES The old adage of counting on a loss for every sophomore you start may not apply this year to Marion, as the Patriot 10th-graders continue to perform well. Five Marion sophomores recorded tackles at Sheridan, led by Davis's 10 stops in his first varsity action after missing most of the season with an injury. Rucker has started the last two games at end, while Carter Moore (four stops), Emmanuel Key (three tackles), and Kendrick Cauley (two stops) also played well. WEEK 8 6A EAST RESULTS Marion 43, Sheridan 7 El Dorado 37, Sylvan Hills 19 Benton 62, Searcy 28 LR Catholic 42, Jacksonville 6 West Memphis 42, Greene County Tech 29 6A EAST STANDINGS SCHOOL CONF. RECORD TIEBREAKER POINTS LR Catholic 7-0 88 Marion 6-1 60 Benton 6-1 78 West Memphis 5-2 53 El Dorado 4-3 52 Searcy 2-5 19 Sheridan 2-5 17 Sylvan Hills 2-5 6 Greene County Tech 1-6 13 Jacksonville 0-7 0 WEEK 9 6A EAST SCHEDULE Sylvan Hills at Marion West Memphis at Benton LR Catholic at El Dorado Sheridan at Greene County Tech Jacksonville at Searcy