Arguably the most intriguing home schedule in Marion football history highlights the Patriots' 2024 football slate. After averaging almost eight wins per season over the past three years, Marion plays its annual benefit scrimmage on Friday, August 23 when it travels to Valley View. The Pats (8-3 overall in 2023) officially open their 2024 campaign when they continue their longest-running gridiron rivalry when Marion travels to play Wynne on August 30. MHS opens its 2024 home schedule on September 6 when the Pats host defending Class 4A state champion Harding Academy inside Southern Bancorp Stadium. Marion wraps up the non-conference portion of its schedule on September 13 when the Pats travel to do battle with the Conway Wampus Cats. The Harding Academy and Conway games will be Marion's first meeting with each school. Following a September 20 bye week, Marion jumps into 6A East play when the Pats host longtime league rival Sylvan Hills on September 27. The Pats open October with their fourth trip to El Dorado in as many seasons as Marion invades Union County on October 4. On October 11, the Fred Leonard State Farm Hometown Showdown returns to Marion as the Pats look to top the West Memphis Blue Devils on the field for the fourth season in a row. Marion renews one of its most heated rivalries of the past 20 years a week later when the Pats travel to play the Jonesboro Golden Hurricane on October 18. Marion has won four of its last five meetings with Jonesboro. The Pats welcome Sheridan and legendary Arkansas high school football coach Kevin Kelley on October 25, the second straight season that Marion has hosted the Yellowjackets. November opens as Marion visits War Memorial Stadium for a crucial conference tilt with the Little Rock Catholic Rockets on November 1. November 8 boasts a potentially massive ballgame when Benton comes to Marion for a contest that could decide the conference title hunt. Every Marion football game will be broadcast live on MarionPatriots.com, the Marion Patriots Activities Network mobile app, as well as the MPAN YouTube channel. All student themes, as well as special dates such as Homecoming, will be announced at a later date. 2024 MARION FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Aug. 23 at Valley View (scrimmage) Aug. 30 at Wynne Sept. 6 Harding Academy Sept. 13 at Conway Sept. 20 BYE WEEK Sept. 27 Sylvan Hills* Oct. 4 at El Dorado* Oct. 11 W. Memphis* Oct. 18 at Jonesboro* Oct. 25 Sheridan* Nov. 1 at LR Catholic* Nov. 8 Benton* *conference game