Hornets roll Marathon, now 7-0
With hopes of continuing their winning ways, the Colby Hornets traveled to Marathon last Friday night. They kept pace with Auburndale for the Marawood conference lead by defeating the Red Raiders by a score of 35-14, improving their overall record to 7-0.
The visitors started off the evening fast on offense. On their fourth play from scrimmage, the Hornets’ offensive line opened up a hole along the left side for senior Tevin Rue, who took advantage and sprinted to the end zone untouched for a 59-yard touchdown.
The Red Raiders responded, going on a ten play, 80-yard drive capped off by a touchdown throw from Marathon quarterback Cooper Hoeksema. He found Griffin Treankler across the middle for a 33-yard touchdown. The home team took the lead after converting their two-point conversion attempt to go up 8-7.
It didn’t take long for Colby to retake that lead, however, courtesy of another big play in the running game. This time it was Caden Healy, who broke free on just the second play of the drive for another 59-yard touchdown.
After struggling to stop the Red Raiders on their first possession, the Hornets defense clamped down. They would give up just 21 yards over Marathon’s next six drives, forcing three punts and getting two second quarter interceptions.
A huge return by Mateo Lopez on one of those punts would set up the Hornets with prime starting field position, lining up for their first snap on Marathon’s 25 yard line. Colby kept the ball on the ground and Gavin Voss delivered the final blow, driving the ball in from six yards out for a touchdown. Following the extra point, the visitors were up 21-8.
The two interceptions came at key moments in the game, as they essentially undid turnovers committed by Colby on the prior possessions. Nathaniel Robida came down with the first and Tucker Meyer took back the ball on the second.
It looked like the interception parade would continue several plays later as it appeared that Meyer had thrown his third interception of the evening, with Marathon’s Tyler Underwood coming down with the ball. This would have been the fifth straight possession to end in an interception, but a pass-interference call on the defense nullified the turnover and the Hornets retained control. Given new life, the Colby quarterback took advantage on the very next play, finding Lopez for a 21-yard pitch and catch for a touchdown to put the visitors up 28-8 at halftime.
“I thought we came out with good intensity in the first half and played well with just a few breakdowns defensively early on,” head coach Jim Hagen said. “But after that we settled down and came up with some key turnovers.”
A long drive on their second chance in the third quarter gave the Hornets a chance to build their lead. After scuttling a prime opportunity to score after Robida’s second interception of the game, Colby would not be denied again. Rue ripped off a 50-yard gain to get his team inside Marathon’s ten-yard line, which set up Healy’s second touchdown of the evening. Even a holding penalty could not hold back the Hornets, as Healy found pay dirt from 12 yards out.
The score of 35-8 would hold until Marathon’s final drive, where a 59-yard pass gave the Red Raiders their second touchdown of the game, but with little time left on the clock, it was too little, too late for the home team.
The Hornets had 306 yards on the ground, the majority of which came from Rue and Healy. Rue led the team in total yards, gaining 159 on the ground and three through the air and scoring one touchdown. Healy had 126 yards on 19 attempts and scored twice. Ivan Haemer had three carries in the first half for 17 yards, Lopez had five carries for 14 yards, and Voss had two carries for 11 yards and a touchdown.
“I thought our run game was very crisp and we had some big runs, which is a credit to our offensive line and how athletic our running backs are,” Hagen said. “We still need to improve on our pass game as I felt the last two games we have taken a slight step backwards.”
It was a tough night for Colby’s air attack. Meyer completed two of his 11 attempts for 24 yards, one of which went for a touchdown, but had two interceptions as well.
Healy led the team in tackles with eight, followed by Levi Dommer with seven and Isaac Raatz with six.
Looking forward, the Hornets host their crosstown rivals, Abbotsford, this week Friday. The Falcons are 4-3 overall and will be looking for their first Marawood victory. The game is to start at 7:00 p.m.
