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September 7, 2013

Marshall too strong for Blue Devils
Southern Sports & Travel
The Marshall Patriots rolled into Tunica on Friday night for a District 1-A opener with the eighth ranked Tunica Blue Devils and left with a convincing 54-14 win.
The Patriot combination of quarterback Dakota Dailey and tailback Devin McGreger accounted for 8 touchdowns on the night. Dailey contributed with 298 yards and 3 touchdowns on offense and added a pick six on defense while fellow junior McGreger added 242 all-purpose yards and 4 scores.
“It was a great way to start district play,” said Marshall head coach Bart Jenkins. “I think we’re getting better every week.”
Marshall struck quickly to open the contest.
The Patriots put up a four play, 53 yard opening drive that took just 30 seconds off the game clock and was capped on Devin McGreger’s 12 yard burst around the right side to give Marshall an early lead. Christian Compton’s PAT gave the Patriots a 7-0 advantage.
Tunica’s offense was only on the field for three plays before being forced to punt on their opening possession of the night and the result was much of the same as Marshall answered with another four play scoring drive.
Setting up shop at their own 39 yard line Dakota Dailey would hit wide-out Colt Lindsey for a quick 7 yard gain to the 46.
Dailey added an 8 yard keeper into Blue Devil territory and then scrambled for 19 yards to the Tunica 27 yard line.
Dailey finished the scoring drive with a 27 yard hook-up with Colt Lindsey for a score with 8:15 remaining in the opening quarter. Compton’s PAT gave Marshall an early 14-0 lead.
Tunica answered the call early on.
The Blue Devils displayed their big play capability when quarterback Quinn Ware connected with wide-out Tyrone Isom for a 58 yard touchdown strike and Joey Poff’s successful PAT cut the Marshall lead in half at 14-7 with 5:43 still left in the first quarter.
Tunica’s momentum was short-lived as Marshall’s Devin McGreger returned the ensuing kick-off 72 yards for a touchdown to push the lead back to two touchdowns at 21-7.
Tunica would let a scoring opportunity slip through their grasp on their next possession and it would prove costly.
Blue Devil tailback Keith Hamilton took a first down hand-off at midfield and erupted for 41 yards to the Marshall 9 yard line but two plays later a high snap over quarterback Quinn Ware’s head was recovered by Marshall linebacker Canaan Pearson at the Patriot 20 yard line to thwart the drive with 4:07 to go in the quarter.
Marshall would return the favor after driving to the Tunica 11 yard line where Quinn Ware intercepted a Dakota Dailey pass with 47 seconds left in a wild first quarter of play but Dailey would produce a huge play on defense two minutes into the second quarter.
Dailey picked off a Quinn Ware pass at the Patriot 42 yard line and sprinted 58 yards for a pick six to give Marshall a 27-7 lead with 10:05 remaining in the half.
After forcing a Tunica punt Marshall tailback Devin McGreger burst through the right side on first down and darted 65 yards for a touchdown and after a Christian Compton PAT the Patriots enjoyed their biggest lead of the night at 34-7 with 8:23 left in the quarter.
Tunica hit pay-dirt on the ensuing possession when Quinn Ware connected with Keith Hamilton for a 67 yard pass and catch score but the Blue Devil defense had no answer for the potent offense of Marshall.
Devin McGreger’s 22 yard touchdown run capped a three play drive that covered 45 yards and pushed the Marshall lead to 41-14 to close out the opening half of play.
Dakota Dailey’s 11 yard keeper with 46 seconds remaining in the third quarter made it 47-14 and Dailey would hit A.J. Boyd with a screen pass in which Boyd turned into a 64 yard touchdown to close out the scoring with just under five minutes left in regulation.
“We’ve performed at a high level all year offensively,” said Jenkins. “We’re still searching for a defensive identity but we’re getting closer from a personnel standpoint.”

Dakota Dailey went 10/12 for 227 yards and 2 touchdowns passing and rushed for 71 yards on 7 carries and a score. Dailey also had a 58 yard interception return for a touchdown.
Devin McGreger rushed for 113 yards on 7 carries and 3 touchdowns and had a 72 yard kick-off return for a score.
Colt Lindsey had 3 receptions for 53 yards and a touchdown and A.J. Boyd had 2 receptions for 75 yards and a score along with 28 rushing yards.
Junior linebacker Hunter Barringer led the Marshall defense with 11 tackles.
Tunica tailback Keith Hamilton rushed for 110 yards on 15 carries and had 3 catches for 83 yards and a touchdown.
Marshall (3-0), ranked second in Class A, will host Class AAA Magnolia Heights next Friday night in Holly Springs. Magnolia Heights lost to Jackson Academy 35-0 last night.
Tunica (2-1) will travel to Clarksdale to take on Lee Academy next week. Lee edged Pillow 13-10 last night.
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Post Game with Marshall Head Coach Bart Jenkins