Photos and Story By Sean McNamara
RACHEL – For the seventh time in school history and the first time since 1997, the North Marion Huskies have opened a season 3-0 after defeating Oak Glen, 49-0, Friday at home in Rachel.
The Huskies made plays in all three phases of the game Friday with five scores on offense, two on defense and a blocked punt on special teams en route to the win.
North Marion (3-0) outgained Oak Glen (0-3) 418-44 in total yards while forcing a pair of Golden Bear turnovers and recording two defensive scores.
Offensively, the Huskies utilized a balanced attack with 217 yards rushing and 201 yards passing with five different players scoring offensive touchdowns and nine players running the ball.
Scoring offensively for North Marion in the first quarter were Aaron Hoffman on an 8-yard run that was set up by a blocked punt by Brock Martin, and Landon Frey on a 16-yard pass from Casey Minor.
The defense, however, was what got things going for the Huskies as Isaiah Sigley recovered a fumble on Oak Glen’s first possession and Cody Clevenger intercepted a Landon Beatty pass and scored on a 29-yard pick-six.
Setting up Clevenger’s defensive score was pressure and a hit by senior lineman Landon Boone who forced Beatty’s pass off target.
“I knew he was going to try and get the ball out of there, and it looked like it was going to come out deeper at first,” Clevenger said. “As soon as Boone got the hit it made it a little bit shorter, but too far for that guy and I just read it.”
The constant defensive pressure up front was a theme all night for the Huskies, who recorded nine tackles for loss in the game.
“We’re working hard and we’re working together,” senior lineman Connor Hayes said. “We’re just playing physical and moving people.
“We were blitzing, setting the edge and the plan was just to get in the backfield and not let them score.”
Leading 19-0 after the first quarter, North Marion got right to work in the second with Minor scoring on a 1-yard touchdown run to put NMHS up, 26-0, after a Sigley PAT.
Just under seven minutes later, after a Frey punt pinned Oak Glen deep in its own territory, senior Harley Sickles sacked Beatty in the end zone for a safety that put the Huskies up, 28-0.
One play after the free kick, Minor threw a deep ball to Frey, who adjusted to the pass, caught it, and raced 54 yards for the score.
Frey, who has emerged as Minor’s top target offensively, had four catches for 125 yards and two scores – all in the first half – Friday, bringing his season total to 13 catches for 312 yards and six scores in three games.
North Marion added second-half scores on a 23-yard run by Parker Kincell in the third quarter and a 10-yard run by Cyrus Collins in the fourth to close out the game with a 49-0 win.
Senior running back Gavan Lemley led the way on the ground for the Huskies with 74 yards on 10 carries as part of a rushing attack that averaged 6.4 yards per carry.
Lemley, who has a team-high 170 yards on the ground this season, credited his offensive line with creating the holes that got his team going.
“They were making creases for me, making blocks, and moving their feet well,” Lemley said. “They caused me to get the holes that I need.”
Kincell posted 60 yards and a score on five carries while catching four passes for 56 yards.
Minor completed 9-of-12 passes for 176 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 11 yards and a score.
For Oak Glen, Anthony Burt led the team with 21 rushing yards while Matthew Greenlief ran for 10 on 13 carries.
Through three games against opponents with a combined record of 1-8, North Marion has allowed 122 yards per game and awaits a test next week as it travels to take on Brooke (2-1).
Next up for Oak Glen will be a trip to Toronto, Ohio.
NORTH MARION 49, OAK GLEN 0
Team Statistics
NM;OG
First Downs;17;4
Rushing Yards; 217;44
Passing Yards 201;0
Total Yards; 418;44
Passing; 11-16-0;0-7-1
Fumbles 1;2
Fumbles Lost 0;1;
Penalties; 6-50;2-8
Individual Statistics
Rushing: NM: Gavan Lemley 10-74, Parker Kincell 5-60 1 TD, Aaron Hoffman 4-28 1 TD, Casey Minor 6-11 1 TD, Cyrus Collins 1-10 1 TD, Trevor Mullett 4-15, Quinton Harbert 1-8, Landon Stemple 2-12, Robert White 1-(-1). Totals 34-217. OG: Anthony Burt 10-21, Matthew Greenlief 13-10, Landon Beatty 3-5, Logan Murray 2-6, Kyle Greenlief 2-5, Kholton Goodlin 1-6, Buck Franklin 1-0, Parker Boyce 1-(-1). Totals 35-44.
Passing: NM: Casey Minor 8-12-0 176 yards 2 TD. Quinton Harbert 2-4-0 25 yards. OG: Landon Beatty 0-7-1.
Receiving: NM: Landon Frey 4-125 2 TD, Parker Kincell 4-56, Gavan Lemley 1-16, Harley Sickles 2-4.
North Marion;;19;15;7;8 – 49
Oak Glen;;0;0;0;0 – 0
First Quarter
NM – Aaron Hoffman 8-yard run (kick failed)
NM – Landon Frey 16-yard pass from Casey Minor (Isaiah Sigley kick)
NM – Cody Clevenger 29-yard interception return (kick failed)
Second Quarter
NM – Casey Minor 1-yard run (Sigley kick)
NM – Landon Beatty sacked by Harley Sickles for safety
NM – Landon Frey 54-yard pass from Casey Minor (kick failed)
Third Quarter
NM – Parker Kincell 23-yard run (Sigley kick)
Fourth Quarter
NM – Cyrus Collins 10-yard run (Quinton Harbert run)
