The Marion defensive unit has been nothing short of excellent so far in 2023. And in last Friday night's homecoming game against Greene County Tech, the Patriot stop troops may have penned their masterpiece. Marion improved to 4-0 overall and 3-0 in the 6A East this fall by limiting the Golden Eagles to 177 total yards, while forcing a pair of turnovers, and blocking a punt in a 37-0 victory at Southern Bancorp Stadium that doubled as the Pats' first shutout since 2018. The Patriot defense has allowed just 33 points so far this, and only 20 have come against the first-team defense. Marion currently boasts the best scoring defense (allows 8.25 points per game in 2023) in Class 6A. The Pats are 4-0 for the first time since 2011, and 3-0 in league action for the second year in a row, but just the third time since 1989. Junior tailback Jalen Smith almost outgained Greene County Tech on his own last week, rushing for 176 yards and three touchdowns, while senior quarterback Ashton Gray completed eight of 14 passes for 174 yards and a TD, including a breathtaking 72-yard TD toss to junior wideout Christian Young (two receptions for 94 yards). Junior receiver Mitrell Lewis snagged three passes for 69 yards, and Cam Garrett plucked three passes for 11 yards to spark the Patriot passing game. But the Marion defense was the story, led by senior linebacker Dewayne Williams, who stacked 10 tackles including one for loss. Senior inside 'backer and Team Captain Javen Griffin recorded seven tackles and an interception, while senior Star 'backer (hybrid linebacker/defensive back) logged six stops and intercepted a pass. “To be 4-0 and you win on homecoming, that's special and a big deal,” said Marion coach Lance Clark. “A shutout is a shutout, and the best part is we didn't even play as well as we could at times defensively. We certainly weren't as sharp as we have been this year, and we have to correct that, but it's a good place to be in.” Tech actually produced more first downs (12) than did Marion (11) on Friday night. Still, the Eagles only visited Marion's red zone one time, and the Pats turned away their visitors when senior safety Martaveon Banks broke up a pass in the end zone. The Marion offensive produced three one-play scoring drives against Greene County Tech, starting when Smith covered the last 3 yards after a blocked punt in the first quarter with 8:54 remaining in that frame. Gray's two-point run gave the Pats an 8-0 advantage. Following Turner's interception that he returned to the Tech 28-yard line on the following drive, Smith took off for a 38-yard TD sprint with 7:33 left in the second for a 14-0 lead that junior kicker Marselo Amaya made 15-0 with an extra point, and that was the score after 12 minutes. "It was very important for us to turn those turnovers into points," said Clark. "We feel like we have the type of defense that can turn you over while also preventing points. We did a little bit of both tonight and we honestly really needed it." The 15-point bulge held until about midway through the second quarter when Gray earned excellent protection in the pocket and hit a streaking Young down the middle of the field for a 72-yard TD toss on first down with 4:47 left in the first half for a 22-0 lead. Marion moved quickly with its final possession of the first half, picking up 45 yards when Gray found Lewis, and Gray cashed it in five plays later when he scored from 5 yards out with 1:44 remaining. The Marion lead hit 30-0 at halftime when Gray connected with Johnathan Guyton for the two-point conversion. The Pats got to the mercy rule for the third straight game with 2:39 left in the third quarter as Smith ran 2 yards for a score. Marion won despite racking up almost 90 penalty yards in against Tech and “that must change now,” said Clark. “I hate to rain on everyone's parade, but mistakes like that will show up as the games get bigger as the season winds on. The reason it's frustrating to me is because I know what we can be as a team and I hold our guys to a higher standard. The good news is that they're all correctable mistakes and we have another game to prepare for.” WHAT'S NEXT? No. 6 Marion travels on Friday night to play third-ranked Benton at Panther Stadium. The 3-0 6A East teams will kick off at 7 p.m., and the game can be watched on MarionPatriots.com and on the Marion Patriots Activities Network YouTube channel. BENTON SERIES HISTORY Marion is 3-1 all-time against Benton, and the Pats won the first three meetings, which all came in the playoffs. Marion bested Benton 42-33 at home in the first round of the 2011 playoffs. The Pats accepted a COVID-19 forfeiture during the opening round of the 2020 playoffs in a game that was scheduled to be played at Benton. The Pats picked up their only victory ever over a No. 1-ranked team in the 2021 quarterfinals, beating Benton 59-37. Benton mauled Marion 55-13 a season ago in Marion in the first-ever conference game between the schools. AU REVOIR? Marion may have played its last football game for a very long time last Friday night against Greene County Tech as the Golden Eagles are expected to return to Class 5A in 2024. The Pats have won the last eight games against Tech, and the Golden Eagles have not beaten Marion since 2001. MERCY ME Marion picked up its third straight mercy-rule victory on Friday night against Tech, the second straight year that the Pats have earned three victories under the running clock. The Tech victory is Marion's eighth mercy-rule victory under Coach Lance Clark. CLARK IN RARE AIR Last Friday night's homecoming victory was Lance Clark's 19th win at Marion (19-9 overall) since taking over in time for the 2021 season. That win total pushes the Alabama native into fourth place in Marion school history for victories. James Hendricks won 21 games in his five seasons at the school, while Bill Cook earned 56 victories between 1982 and 1996. Mark Uhiren is Marion's all-time wins leader with 64 wins from 2002-2013. 6A EAST RESULTS FROM 9/22 Marion 37, Greene Co. Tech 0 Benton 56, El Dorado 7 LR Catholic 45, Searcy 14 Sheridan 49, Jacksonville 25 W. Memphis 44, Sylvan Hills 13 6A EAST STANDINGS ON 9/25 Marion 3-0 Benton 3-0 W. Memphis 3-0 LR Catholic 2-1 Searcy 2-1 El Dorado 1-2 Sheridan 1-2 Jacksonville 1-2 Sylvan Hills 1-2 6A EAST GAMES ON 9/29 Marion at Benton Greene Co. Tech at Jacksonville LR Catholic at W. Memphis El Dorado at Searcy Sylvan Hills at Sheridan