Marion senior quarterback Ashton Gray broke the pocket and took off downfield against a gassed Maumelle defense. Gray made the first tackler miss and outran one along the home sideline at Southern Bancorp Stadium. One of Marion's Team Captains covered the last 8 yards in a jog, and while his second scoring run of the night gave Marion just a 20-14 lead with 8:02 left in the second quarter, it was emblematic of the offensive display of the evening. The first-team Marion offense moved the ball at will, punting just one time, while generating four touchdown drives against Class 5A Maumelle. Gray was at the center of the storm, completing six of 10 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown. At the same time, he covered 113 steps on 10 carries with the aforementioned highlight-reel score in Marion's 47-28 conquest that featured half of the starters-on-starters before giving way to younger players after halftime. “Overall, I can't say enough good things about the offense,” said third-year Marion coach Lance Clark. “We executed at a high level, made some plays, adjusted to the elements, and remained effective the whole night. Ashton, in particular, played well, he played fast, and he was decisive when he ran it.” Marion's new-look up-tempo offense maintained a quick pace, often snapping the ball with 30 seconds or more on the clock, and it helped the hosts rack up 506 yards (307 yards rushing and 199 yards passing) in the exhibition. The Pats were an efficient seven of 13 on third downs. Junior tailback Jalen Smith opened the scoring with a 5-yard TD plunge with 8:19 left in the first quarter, but a missed extra point kept Maumelle in front 7-6. Maumelle led 14-6 following the Patriot starters' only punt of the night, but that's when junior defensive back Taheem Frost recovered a Hornet fumble and returned it 44 yards for a TD to get the Pats within 14-13. Marion took its first lead of the night with 1:05 left in the first frame when Gray ran 8 yards for his first score and the Pats led 20-14 after the first quarter. Maumelle answered with a TD on the ensuing drive when Gray took off for what was the deciding score and the Pats led 27-21 at halftime. The game changed early in the third period. Coaches agreed to let their starters play one offensive and one defensive series coming out of halftime. Marion cashed in its opportunity when Gray found junior tight end Cameron Garrett on the first play of the second half on an impressive 80-yard TD toss set up by a sharp Garrett double-move. Likewise, the Marion defensive starters made the most of the opportunity when senior linebacker Victor Turner picked up a loose Maumelle football and returned it for a touchdown with 10:47 left in the third quarter. In a span of 61 seconds, Marion led 41-21. “I can't stress how important it was for our starters to come out of halftime the way they did,” said Clark. “That's why we wanted to play those first two series because it's easy to go in, get complacent, and lose your edge. Our guys didn't do that, and it was a great sign.” Marion capped its scoring on the first play of the fourth quarter when sophomore QB Zayden Walker hooked up with classmate Solomon Flores for a 32-yard TD connection with 11:47 remaining. WHAT'S NEXT? Marion hosts Wynne on Friday night inside Southern Bancorp Stadium in a game that will be broadcast on MarionPatriots.com and the Marion Patriots Activities Network mobile app. Wynne is Marion's longest-running rivalry as the schools have played every year since 1969. TEAM CAPTAINS QB Ashton Gray, safety Martaveon Banks, and linebacker Javen Griffin will serve as Marion's permanent Team Captains this fall. VPA LEADS THE PLEDGE A group of students from Marion Visual and Performing Arts magnet school will lead the Pledge of Allegiance prior to Friday night's game. WEEK 0 6A EAST GAMES Wynne at Marion West Memphis at Jonesboro Benton vs. Bryant Little Rock Catholic at North Little Rock Sylvan Hills at Maumelle Batesville at Searcy Sheridan at White Hall Paragould and Greene County Tech Beebe at Jacksonville El Dorado is open.