Almost without warning, anyone watching Marion's 37-7 victory over Harding Academy on September 6 could see the flashes of what the 2024 Patriot defense could be. Hosting the defending Class 4A state champions inside Southern Bancorp Stadium, Marion limited the explosive Wildcat offense to just seven points and almost 200 yards of offense. “Their quarterback, Owen Miller, he's as good as anybody in the state at running around, getting away from the rush, and making plays,” said fourth-year Marion coach Lance Clark. “He may have been able to do that once that night. Our D-line was just phenomenal, and has been most of the year.” Marion (5-1 overall, 3-0 6A East) knew it would have a deep defensive line rotation prior to the season, but even in Clark's wildest dreams did he ever expect the type of depth and production this fall's down linemen had in store. The Patriots have gotten breakout seasons from defensive ends, with Ryan Blackwell and Zadean Wilson ranking fourth and sixth on the Marion tackle chart, with 28 and 26 tackles, respectively. Blackwell is tied for the team lead with two sacks and four tackles for loss, while Wilson has stacked three TFLs while moonlighting on offense at tight end. Senior Tayshon Lowery, who's been limited with injury, Marterion Bazemore, and Antonio Reed each rotate at end. “Those guys play hard, they play fast, they're really good at the angles,” said Clark. “Football is essentially a geometry game, how do I get to where I need to be? Blackwell and Zadean are so talented at keeping leverage and pursuing the ball with proper angles.” Marion rotates many players inside, and Elijah Doss, Gary Wilson, Makhi Guyton, Taylin Rucker, Jaylon Crawford, and Christopher Williams all contribute in many ways. “Some of those guys are bigger than others, but they all get in there and scrap,” said Clark. “Some weeks, we prefer some of those guys to another, but they all understand that and play their roles.” Rucker leads the defensive tackles in stops with 19 and a forced fumble, but Guyton has logged 14 tackles, and Wilson and Crawford have stacked four tackles apiece in 2024. With the defensive line dominating up front, Marion has held all but two teams under 300 yards this season, allowing just 75 total yards to Sylvan Hills Week 4 and 99 yards one week ago county rival West Memphis. “In those games, everyone did their job, executed at a high level, played hard, and did all the things you needed to do,” said Clark. “But it did start up front with those guys getting in there, being disruptive, and winning their matchup more often than not.” Marion's down linemen will be put to the test this week when the Patriots renew their regional rivalry with Jonesboro at 7 p.m. on Friday night. The Patriots and Golden Hurricane were league foes every season between 2006 and 2021 before the Arkansas Activities Association's reclassification efforts for the 2022 and 2023 football seasons catapulted Jonesboro into Class 7A. When last seen, Marion topped Jonesboro 50-43 on Week 10, 2021 at home, denying the Golden Hurricane an outright 6A East title. “I think anyone you talk to around our town, the top two rivalries are Wynne and West Memphis in some order,” said Clark. “Then right there with them or just behind them is Jonesboro. Our kids have grown up playing there in seventh and junior high, so now we get to play them again in high school. This will be a very big challenge because they're the biggest team in the offensive line that we've seen since Conway. They have size and speed at the skill spots. They have a talented quarterback who can make the throws, and they're well-schooled on defense.” Jonesboro boasts one of the top two-way threats in Class 6A in receiver/defensive back Nigel Bell, while tailback T.J. Brown averages more than 80 yards rushing per game. Kelen Smith and Matt Bartels stretch the defense deep, each averaging more than 16 yards per reception. The top four tacklers for Jonesboro are seniors, led by Sam King's 35 stops, K.J. Anderson's 33 tackles, 28 from Jamarion Nelson, and Junior Nelson's 26 stops. Senior Markeice Stafford twice earned 7A Central all-conference honors the past two years. Jonesboro (1-5 overall, 1-2 6A East) has faced a gauntlet so far in 2024, losing non-conference contests to Conway, Joe T. Robinson, and DeSoto Central, and the Golden Hurricane have already lost to Benton and Little Rock Catholic in league action. After Friday night, Jonesboro's final three contests come against teams that are a combined 3-15, and “that makes this a really big game for both of us,” said Clark. “We know they are better than their record would indicate. They almost just beat Catholic, and we know how good Catholic is. If we think we can just show up and win at Jonesboro then we are sorely mistaken. This will be a four-quarter dog fight on Friday night.” HOW TO WATCH Watch the Marion-Jonesboro game for free on the MPAN YouTube channel, or the MPAN mobile app, or on MarionPatriots.com. The game will kickoff at 7 p.m., with pregame scheduled for about 6:45. SERIES RECORD Jonesboro leads the all-time series with Marion 10-6 beginning in 2006, but the Patriots have won four of the last five meetings between the schools. Marion last won in Jonesboro in 2018. PLAYERS OF THE WEEK Marion junior quarterback Zayden Walker earned the Crittenden County Farm Bureau's Player of the Week award after completing nine of 13 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns last week in Marion's fourth straight victory over West Memphis. Patriot sophomore left guard Walt Tucker, Jr. earned the team's Offensive Lineman of the Week, while junior receiver Jeremy Dent earned the DTMG Patriot of the Week after catching a 33-yard TD pass from Walker and logging two pancake blocks. RANKINGS RUNDOWN Marion maintained its No. 4 statewide ranking in this week's edition of rankings in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and on Hootens.com. WHAT'S THE RUSH? Marion senior tailback Jalen Smith is only 77 yards away from breaking 2017 Marion grad Tom Young's all-time school rushing record. RIVALRY RENEWED Marion entered the 2021 football season a combined 0-23 against El Dorado and West Memphis, but the Patriots have gone 6-2 on the field against those teams over the past four seasons. 6A EAST STANDINGS ON 10/16 Marion 3-0 Benton 3-0 LR Catholic 3-0 El Dorado 1-2 Jonesboro 1-2 Sheridan 1-2 Sylvan Hills 0-3 W. Memphis 0-3 6A EAST GAMES ON 10/18 Marion at Jonesboro Sylvan Hills at W. Memphis El Dorado at Benton LR Catholic at Sheridan