Veteran El Dorado football coach Chris Hill knew his team was in for a challenge when he started scouting the Marion Patriots last week.
But Hill's team persevered through a good Marion outfit, a four-hour bus ride, and a late Patriot rally to earn a 28-21 decision here Friday night at Southern Bancorp Stadium.
"We knew they were good before we'd seen them, then we turned on the tape," said Hill. "We knew we'd have to play pretty good to win, but the kids did play good, and this is a big one for us."
El Dorado (4-1 overall, 2-0 6A East) rushed for more than 200 yards, including a 100-yard effort from senior tailback Jeremy Samuel by halftime, to push past the Patriots.
The tailback added 3 touchdowns, including a 64-yard scoring sprint late in the first half that gave El Dorado a 21-7 halftime lead.
But Samuel did not earn a carry in the second half, and El Dorado had to battle through a spirited Marion rally in the fourth quarter.
After the Wildcats capped an 8-play, 57-yard drive with a 6-yard TD run from Jakori Lumsey, Marion wasted little time on the ensuing drive, as senior QB Zayden Walker hit a streaking Aamoni Wren for a 67-yard TD toss on first down to pull Marion within 28-21 with 3:27 left in regulation.
The situation went from bad to worse for the Wildcats as Marion recovered an onside kick following the score, but the El Dorado defense did not allow a first down after Marion took over near midfield, forcing a turnover on downs with 2:08 left in the fourth quarter.
"Our kids persevered, hung in there, and fought," said Hill. "We fought, we battled. They did a great job all night. Winners find ways to win ballgames, knock the ball loose, and get an extra yard. We had guys make those plays all night, maybe not on a consistent basis, but a lot of the time, and it showed."
The Wildcats converted two fourth downs on the ensuing drive to drain the clock.
El Dorado took the football to start the game and marched 47 yards in 11 plays, hitting paydirt when Samuel went over the top on fourth-and-goal from the Marion 1-yard line for a 7-0 lead with 8::47 left in the first quarter, and that tally was the score after 12 minutes.
On the second play of the second quarter, Samuel gave El Dorado a 14-0 lead when he scored from 2 yards out with 11:08 left in the first half.
Marion (3-2, 1-1) methodically marched on the ensuing drive, covering 55 yards in 12 plays, and getting on the scoreboard when Jeremiah Dent ran 6 yards to paydirt to cut the Wildcat lead to 14-7 with 7:17 left in the second.
Samuel gave El Dorado a 21-7 lead with an electrifying 64-yard TD run with 4:16 left in the first half, breaking a handful of tackles en route to the end zone.
"Jeremy is just a talented runner, and we did a good job up front," said Hill. "We always talk about winning the middle 4 minutes of a ballgame, the last 2 of the first half, and the first 2 of the second half. That run helped us there."
Marion drove inside the Wildcat 20-yard line on the following drive, but a field goal attempt missed wide left to hold the margin at 21-7 El Dorado at halftime.
The Patriots got within 21-14 early in the third quarter when Dent ran 6 yards for a score, and that tally held to open the fourth quarter.
Marion forced a punt early in the fourth and took over at the El Dorado 30-yard line with 7:51 left in regulation, but lost a fumble on first down that the Wildcats turned into Lumsey's touchdown 8 plays and 57 yards later for a 28-14 advantage.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Marion takes the short trip Friday night to continue 6A East play at West Memphis. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., and you can watch the game for free on the MPAN YouTube channel.
6A EAST RESULTS FROM 10/3
El Dorado 28, Marion 21
Sylvan Hills 40, Benton 35
LR Catholic 44, W. Memphis 28
Jonesboro 48, Sheridan 42
6A EAST STANDINGS ON 10/6
SCHOOL CONF. RECORD
El Dorado 2-0
Marion 1-1
Sylvan Hills 1-1
Benton 1-1
LR Catholic 1-1
Jonesboro 1-1
Sheridan 1-1
W. Memphis 0-2
6A EAST GAMES ON 10/10
Marion at W. Memphis
Sheridan at Benton
Sylvan Hills at El Dorado
LR Catholic at Jonesboro