Chillicothe grinds down Owls, 15-7

The Owls' lone touchdown came after senior Jacob Adcock (19) forced a fumble by quarterback Jacob Lewis deep in Chillicothe's end of the field.
(Chris Allen/Democrat-News)

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After yielding a touchdown on its first series, the Owls' defense held firm until eventually being worn down by the ineffectiveness of an offense which couldn't score except when a turnover set it up in the "red zone."

Marshall played with energy throughout, though -- a positive sign.

"They played hard, they played with passion," Eilers remarked. "That's the team I want to be coach of."

The Owls needed all the effort they could muster, especially late in the game when they kept Chillicothe out of the end zone and the margin within one score.

However, even deep in its own end in a triple-wide two-minute offense, Marshall eschewed the downfield pass -- the Hornets crowding the line of scrimmage most of the game with nine or 10 players in the box.

"I'll take the blame," Eilers offered, without prompting. While eight of Marshall's 32 snaps were pass plays, only one was vertical -- four going to senior fullback John Lozano, including a 13-yard toss for a 7-6 lead with 10:16 left in the second quarter.

The only throw to a wideout came in the game's final minute, a short one to senior Demetric Poindexter -- who bobbled it into the hands of Chillicothe senior Kale Allen to quash the Owls' bleak chances.

The Hornets struck the first blow on their initial possession, going 53 yards on seven plays -- the killer being a 12-yard halfback pass from senior Zach Douglas to senior Alex Thompson on fourth down and long. Two plays later, junior Guy Vinson cruised 15 yards into the end zone.

The Owls got near midfield before a holding penalty on third down and 3 yards to go stalled them.

"That's one thing that always makes you nervous going into the first game," Eilers said. "Penalties and turnovers: We had both of them."

On the Hornets' second play of the second quarter, senior Jacob Adcock broke through to sack junior quarterback Jacob Lewis -- knocking the ball loose for senior Jonathan Phillips to recover at the visitors' 13-yard line. Lozano scored, sophomore Zach Bishop booted the extra point and Marshall took the lead.

The Owls held it, too, until Chillicothe got a takeaway midway through the third period. Junior Austin Hatfield wrestled the ball away from senior Tanner Dillon for possession at the Marshall 16. It took the Hornets six plays before senior Nick Plummer could crack the goal line from four yards out for a 12-7 lead, not expanded because of sophomore Brandon Johnson's hit to jar the ball loose from Thompson on the two-point pass attempt.

The Hornets benefited from a short punt, taking over at the MHS 25 to begin the fourth quarter, but Marshall held them out after yielding two first downs. Chillicothe settled for a 22-yard field goal by freshman Alan Kline for an eight-point cushion.

"What a defensive success it was to hold them to a field goal," Eilers exclaimed. "That was a sign of what they are defensively."

But even the best defenses can suffer from attrition. Taking over with 7:09 remaining, the Hornets staged a nine-play, 62-yard series which consumed nearly six minutes before senior Ryan Smith grabbed another Adcock-forced fumble with 1:20 left. The Owls gave the ball back two plays later and that was it.

"They were just running a fullback dive, a power play," Eilers said. "Power was wearing us out. Our kids got tired."

It was as much an emotional strain as any, as Marshall had possession less than six-and-a-half minutes of the second half and produced only one first down.

"It's not even conditioning," Eilers said. "Even with some of the same kids on defense, it can effect their mindset."

Vinson had 12 carries for 105 yards to pace a Chillicothe (1-0) ground attack which out-gained the Owls 224-46, much of it after initial contact. Lozano was in on 13 tackles and Johnson had seven solo run stops, although when the defensive back made them they averaged a 4.7-yard gain. Of 53 MHS tackles, 38 were solo -- not a lot of hats on the ballcarrier.

Marshall (0-1) will remain at home for its NCMC opener Friday against Mexico, which won five straight games late last season before being ousted in the Class 3 quarterfinals.

"The biggest challenge that we're going to face," Eilers said. "A similar team [to Chillicothe] as far as physicality and power.

"It's going to be up to our offense to stay on the field and put points up," he declared.