WYNNE --- You could create a laundry list of things that went wrong for the Marion football team last Friday night here in 2024's season opener. A 14-0 deficit in the second quarter, for starters. A Wynne touchdown with nine seconds left in the second quarter gave the hosts a halftime lead after the Patriots had scratched and clawed to tie the game. A two-hour, 13-minute weather delay that featured lightning, a thunderstorm, and standing water in the stadium. The delay assured that the contest would finish just moments prior to midnight, but somehow for the Marion faithful in attendance, or those keeping up online, it was worth the wait. Marion got 211 total yards and five touchdowns from senior tailback Jalen Smith, the last score a 21-yard TD toss to senior receiver Mitrell Lewis on fourth and five with less than three minutes left in regulation and doubled as the game-winning score in a 34-28 victory. "We had that play called earlier tonight and chickened out using it," said Marion coach Lance Clark. "We know when we need it, Jay can make a play, and that's what he did there." From there, it was up to the Marion defense to swat the Yellowjackets away. Wynne marched to the cusp of the Patriot red zone late in the game, when senior linebacker Emanuel Key, who led the Patriots with 10 tackles, came up with a sack on fourth down to end the final Wynne threat. Wynne (0-1 overall) had designs on making it a game early on, however. The Yellowjackets marched 72 steps in 11 plays, culminating when senior Cam Smith scored from 2 yards out with 1:20 left in the first quarter, and the extra point gave the hosts a 7-0 lead after the opening quarter. The lead doubled three plays into the second quarter when Cam Smith covered 3 yards for his second score and a 14-0 Wynne bulge. But the Pats marched back on the ensuing drive, covering 80 yards in eight plays, hitting paydirt when Jalen Smith scored his first TD from 7 yards out to make the score 14-7. Following a Wynne turnover on downs, Marion cashed in the gift when Jalen Smith zipped 26 yards to glory with 6:08 left in the first half to tie the game at 14. Wynne's answer was a methodical 13-play march that was good for 62 yards, and the 'Jackets claimed a 20-14 halftime lead when Siler Holbrook found tight end Cooper Thompson for an 8-yard TD toss with nine seconds left in the second stanza. Wynne lost a fumble on the first snap of the third quarter and the Pats turned it into points when Jalen Smith rumbled 3 yards for a TD, but a fumbled snap for the extra point kept the score knotted at 20 apiece with 10:26 left in the third. Marion took its first lead of the night late in the third following a Wynne turnover on downs, getting 33 yards on a first-down completion from junior quarterback Zayden Walker to Lewis, and Jalen Smith finished the job with a 7-yard TD rush, and when Jalen Smith converted for two points, Marion led 28-20. "This was a big character game for our team," said Clark. "The football part wasn't anything to write home about, but our kids stayed locked in and made plays whenever we had to have it. I couldn't be more proud." But Wynne tied the game at 28 when Holbrook hit Anthony Smith for a 6-yard TD pass, and when Cam Smith took a direct snap for the two-point conversion into the end zone, the game was again tied. Taking over with 6:21 left in regulation, Marion faced fourth-and-5 at the Wynne 21-yard line before calling time and calling Smith and Lewis's number one more time. Wynne moved from its 33-yard line inside the Marion 20-yard line with what would prove to be its final drive before the Marion defense stiffened and turned the 'Jackets away. WHAT'S NEXT? Marion hosts defending Class 4A state champion Harding Academy on Friday night in the home opener at Southern Bancorp Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the game can be watched for free on MarionPatriots.com, the MPAN YouTube channel, and the MPAN mobile app. VPA LEADS THE PLEDGE Marion Visual and Performing Arts Magnet School will lead the performance of the Pledge of Allegiance prior to kickoff on Friday night against Harding Academy. RANKINGS RUNDOWN Marion maintained the No. 4 spot in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's weekly Super Six rankings this week. The Patriots also stood still at No. 5 in Hooten's Arkansas Football's Class 6A rankings. STEER THE VEER Marion largely controlled Wynne's Split Back offense on Friday night, surrendering 235 yards on 58 carries, but the Yellowjackets stayed alive through the air, completing six of seven passes for 112 yards and two TDs. FINDING THE FLAG Marion had two long touchdowns wiped out at Wynne by penalty, but the Patriots wound up scoring to cap each drive anyway. NEW FACE, SAME PLACE Marion junior QB Zayden Walker made his first career varsity start Friday night at Wynne, completing 10 of 13 passes for 134 yards and no turnovers. Almost two years ago to the day, then Marion junior QB Ashton Gray made his third start, and first as the team's full-time starter. RARE REPEAT Marion beat Wynne in consecutive years for the first time since winning five in a row against the Yellowjackets from 2005-2009. 6A EAST RESULTS FROM WEEK 0 Marion 34, Wynne 28 Bryant 52, Benton 42 LR Christian 21, El Dorado 14 Conway 42, Jonesboro 21 Sheridan 44, White Hall 20 Hot Springs 34, W. Memphis 7 Maumelle 36, Sylvan Hills 0 LR Catholic 20, Texarkana 15 6A EAST GAMES ON 9/6 Harding Academy at Marion Sylvan Hills at Vilonia Joe T. Robinson at Jonesboro Camden Fairview at El Dorado LR Catholic vs. Nolan (Texas) Catholic Hot Springs Lakeside at Sheridan Benton and W. Memphis are open.