Five home games, including tilts with historic rivals Wynne and Greene County Tech, as well as nine conference games for a second season in a row, highlight the 2023 Marion football schedule. Following a 2022 campaign that saw the Patriots win seven times, including the best conference start since 1989, Marion hosts Class 5A power Maumelle at Southern Bancorp Stadium on Friday, August 18 for the school's annual benefit scrimmage. The 2023 season officially begins one week later when the Wynne Yellowjackets invade Marion's home turf for a Week 0 showdown. Marion topped Wynne 24-21 in 2021 with a Dylan Pieri game-winning field goal at the horn before later forfeiting that outcome. Marion has played Wynne every season in succession since 1979. Marion is open Week 1 on September 1, but the Patriots open 6A East action on September 8 when they travel to play El Dorado. Marion bested El Dorado for the first time ever last fall, slipping the Wildcats 27-23, but Marion is 0-5 all-time at Memorial Stadium, including 0-4 in the playoffs. Week 2 has the Patriots continuing league play at Jacksonville. Marion downed the Titans last fall on homecoming, and this year's contest will be the Pats' second trip to Jacksonville's new football facilities. Greene County Tech comes calling on September 22, and the Golden Eagles have not beaten the Pats since 2001. This will be Tech's first trip to Marion since 2005. September 29 marks a potential conference championship game as Marion travels to Benton. The Panthers beat the Pats for the first time ever a season ago, but Marion's 59-37 victory in the 2021 quarterfinals doubled as Marion's first win ever over a No. 1-ranked team. Searcy kicks off the second half of the Marion gridiron slate when the Lions visit on October 6. Marion has won the last two games with Searcy after the Lions had won nine of the previous 10 meetings. The Crittenden County Super Bowl is scheduled for October 13 when Marion travels to play West Memphis. Marion has won the past two meetings with the Blue Devils by a combined 49-15. Sheridan visits Marion on October 20 for the first time since 2020, and the Pats look to remain unbeaten against the Yellowjackets. Marion and Sheridan met for the first time in 2020, but the Pats have played the past two seasons at Sheridan due to a scheduling quirk. Marion continues one of its more intriguing rivalries on October 27 when the Pats travel to play Sylvan Hills. These teams have met every season since 2018, with Marion having won four of the six meetings since then, including 27-23 a season ago. The 2020 Patriots dealt the Bears their only league loss. The Pats cap the 2023 regular year on November 3 when defending 6A East champion Little Rock Catholic visits after making last season's state semifinals. The Rockets downed the Pats last November in the first meeting of the schools. PLAYOFF PATS Marion has qualified for the state playoffs for 18 seasons, last missing the cut in 2004. The Pats must finish in the top six of the 10-team 6A East this fall to make the playoffs again. Marion has hosted at least one playoff game for the past seven years. EXPERIENCED SQUAD Marion returns more than 40 lettermen from the 2022 football team, including 10 starters on offense and six on defense. Almost 40 sophomores expect to promote to the varsity team, replacing 14 graduates. SPECIAL DATES Special dates such as homecoming and senior night will be named later this summer. Theme nights, such as Junior Patriot Night, will also be settled at a later date.