Overshadowed in Marion's 61-23 defeat last week at No. 3 Benton is the Patriots' continued production in the running game. Keyed by senior quarterback Ashton Gray's 237 yards and two touchdowns in Saline County, Marion rushed for 313 yards against the Panthers. The performance raised the Pats' rushing yards per game to more than 267 steps per game in 2023. This isn't necessarily a surprise given Marion's veteran offensive line that returns its top six performers from a season ago, Gray's breakout fall in his second season as QB1, and the return of 2022 all-state tailback Jalen Smith. Smith leads the Marion (4-1 overall, 3-1 6A East) rushing chart with 694 yards and 10 TDs at the midway point, and Gray's single-game QB rushing record of 237 yards at Benton gives him 552 yards and eight scores so far this fall. Senior twins Jamar and Jordan Foster have combined for 225 yards and two scores this season. Marion's veteran offensive line of seniors Carter Benton, Aqeelo Allen, Jermaine Davis, and Allen Miller, and juniors Carius Curne and Charlie Cantrell continue to produce in Marion's wide zone scheme. Junior Cam Garrett has emerged as a versatile blocker at tight end. The Pats opened the season by rushing for 245 yards in a 27-7 victory over Wynne in the season opener. Marion ran wild at El Dorado on September 8, darting for 387 yards in a 50-13 conquest. Marion rolled up 395 balanced yards at Jacksonville but still managed 213 steps against the Titans, and the Pats rushed for 237 yards against Greene Co. Tech on homecoming. Marion looks to keep its running game on track this week when the Pats welcome Searcy for a 7 p.m. Kickoff at a game that will be broadcast live on MarionPatriots.com and on the MPAN YouTube channel. Searcy (4-1, 3-1) has proven explosive so far in 2023, averaging 41 points per game, topping 42 points in each of its four wins. “They're an extremely explosive team,” said Marion coach Lance Clark. “They're a typical Searcy team in a lot of ways. They have a good (running) 'back, the QB is a great player, and they have three receivers who can do damage.” Searcy QB Ty Strickland earned all-conference honors a season ago, and he's playing better than ever this year, completing 64 percent of his passes for 1,141 yards and 11 TDs with six interceptions. The dual-threat team leader has also rushed for 345 yards, second on the team behind sophomore Rickey Love's 595 steps and 13 TDs Three Lions have caught 13 passes or more, led by Jesse Sumpter's 33 receptions for 445 yards and seven TDs But it's not just Searcy's offense grabbing headlines these days. The Lion defense tweaked its scheme during the off-season, and while there have been some growing pains at times, “they're much better schooled and playing harder than I can recall,” said Clark. “They seem to have a greater belief in what they're doing and who they are.” Searcy has held two opponents to 19 points or less this fall, and the defense made plays down the stretch last week to help the Lions defeat El Dorado 47-35. Sophomore Lawson Wimberly tops the Searcy tackle chart with 53 stops, while linebacker Luis Garcia has stacked 45 tackles, followed closely by Charles Thompson's 44 tackles. Senior defensive back Dash Stevenson has made 40 tackles. The Lion defense has recorded 17.5 sacks already this year and they've forced five turnovers. The Marion-Searcy series has seen its fair share of twists and turns through the years. These schools met for the first time in 2006, when Marion tamed the Lions 35-21. That victory kicked off a six-game winning streak against Searcy for Marion, which ended in 2012 when the Lions blanked the Pats 17-0 at Lion Stadium. Searcy's 17-point victory that season sparked a run of four straight Lion victories until Marion slammed Searcy 35-14 in 2016. But Searcy bounced back with four more consecutive victories against Marion from 2017-2020. The Pats dropped a 28-21 decision to the eventual state champion Lions in 2019, just Searcy's second-closest victory in a remarkable 12-1 season. But Lance Clark's Patriots topped Searcy the past two years, giving Marion an ever-so-slight 9-8 edge in the all-time series. “This is the best Searcy has looked on defense since I've been in Arkansas (2018),” said Clark. “And their offense hasn't really slowed or anything, so this will be a tough test for us on Friday night. But it'll be a big ballgame and an opportunity for us to see how we stack up against another quality team.” HOW TO WATCH Marion and Searcy will kick off at 7 p.m. On Friday night inside Southern Bancorp Stadium. The game can be viewed on MarionPatriots.com or on the Marion Patriots Activities Network YouTube channel. MHS CHEER LEADS THE PLEDGE The Marion varsity cheerleaders will lead the Pledge of Allegiance on Friday night prior to kickoff. HOME SWEET HOME Marion is 8-1 in 6A East home games under Coach Lance Clark. The Patriots went 3-0 against league foes in 2021, and Marion was 4-1 last fall at Southern Bancorp Stadium. Marion beat Greene County Tech two weeks ago on homecoming in the Pats' only conference home game so far this year. BALANCED EFFORT Six receivers caught passes last week at Benton, led by sophomore Cole Barnett's two catches for eight yards. Cam Garrett snagged a 57-yard pass, while Johnathan Guyton's reception covered nine yards. Corey Yates caught a four-yard pass, while Mitrell Lewis and Solomon Flores each caught one pass. Lewis's reception went for a TD. 6A EAST STANDINGS Benton 4-0 W. Memphis 4-0 Marion 3-1 Searcy 3-1 LR Catholic 2-2 Sheridan 2-2 El Dorado 1-3 Jacksonville 1-3 Greene Co. Tech 0-4 Sylvan Hills 0-4 6A EAST GAMES ON 10/6 Searcy at Marion W. Memphis at El Dorado Sheridan at LR Catholic Benton at Greene Co. Tech Jacksonville at Sylvan Hills