Marion Athletics -

If you've sat close enough to the Marion sideline during this football season, there's no doubt that you've heard coaches yelling “fourth phase!” at some time or another.

The origin may surprise you.

“We believe that our kickoff team is a unit all to itself,” said fifth-year Marion head coach Lance Clark. “We don't just see it as an extension of special teams, we see it as a very significant way that we can win and tighten up around the margins.”

Marion's entire special teams unit has been working overtime in 2025.

The Patriots (6-3 overall, 4-2 6A East) adopted a new philosophy to the kicking game over the off-season, emphasizing more onside kicks, and a larger variety of them, to boot.

The result has been gangbusters. Marion's kicking game has been better than ever this year, delivering game-changing plays in most of the Patriot victories this fall.

Marion's “fourth phase” has recovered four onside kicks, including one that Jeremiah Dent returned for a touchdown in a 10-point victory at Sheridan. Kejeris Hill delivered an 84-yard kick return for a score against Wynne.

Kajeris Hill opened the scoring last week against Little Rock Catholic with a 53-yard punt return TD en route to a 48-10 victory that clinched a playoff berth for Marion.

“We really believe in the fourth phase,” said Clark. “You can score in the kicking game, which is why we have starters on that unit. Our kids have bought in and really get excited about being on that team.”
The Patriots blocked a punt and picked up a muffed punt in their tight 46-43 victory in the conference opener at Sylvan Hills, which is still the Bears' only regular-season loss so far.

Clark heaps praise on special teams coordinator Terry Johnson for the success of his team's fourth phase.

“I went to Coach Johnson over the summer and we talked about some different things we could do in the kicking game,” said Clark. “He was into it, he came up with some other ideas, too, and the rest is history.”

While the schemes changed over the off-season, so too did Marion's kickers and punters.
After the 2024 season, graduation hit the fourth phase especially hard, leaving Marion to find new specialists.

Enter senior Brody Byrd and junior Brody Wasion, who emerged as reliable performers at punter and place-kicker.

Byrd has averaged more than 31 yards per punt, with five resting inside the 20-yard line, while Wasion has connected on more than 75 percent of his extra points.

“The Brodys have been massive for us,” said Clark. “Brody Byrd hits almost all of his punts really well, gets the ball away quickly, just does what you need him to do. Brody Wasion has solidified our extra points, and the day is coming when we will need him to make a big field goal, and the good thing is that I trust him to do it.”

Marion's fourth phase will take center stage in Friday night's regular-season finale at two-time defending 6A East champion Benton (7-2 overall, 5-1 6A East).

The Panthers can still earn a third straight league crown with a victory on Friday night, though the Panthers may have to settle for the No. 2 playoff seed with a win and a Sylvan Hills victory over Little Rock Catholic.

Marion could garner a share of the conference championship with a win over Benton and a Sylvan Hills loss.

Benton battled extensive injuries through August and September, missing its top two receivers, while also solving a puzzle in the offensive line, but the Panthers have won four straight games, scoring 49 points or more in every outing.

“It's a typical Benton team, which is to say it's really explosive, good at quarterback, the receivers get open and make plays,” said Clark. “The offensive line is playing great right now.”
The Panthers average 46 points per game in 2025, including more than 64 points per week during the four-game winning streak.

Benton continues to employ Coach Brad Harris's patented 3-3 Stack defense, and “they really play it well,” said Clark. “They cover well on the back end, and still are able to recover to the run. Their linebackers read and react very quickly.”

Harris broke Benton's all-time wins record two weeks ago with a 63-0 victory over Little Rock Catholic, while QB Drew Davis is Benton's all-time leader in passing yards and passing touchdowns.

HOW TO WATCH
Kickoff at Panther Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday night. You can watch the Benton game for free on the MPAN YouTube channel.

6A EAST RESULTS ON 10/31
Marion 48, LR Catholic 10
El Dorado 44, Jonesboro 21
Sylvan Hills 84, Sheridan 48
Benton 49, W. Memphis 19

6A EAST STANDINGS ON 11/3
SCHOOL CONF. RECORD
Sylvan Hills 5-1*
Benton 5-1*
El Dorado 4-2*
Marion 4-2*
Jonesboro 3-3*
Sheridan 2-4*
LR Catholic 1-5
W. Memphis 0-6
*clinched a berth in the state playoffs

6A EAST GAMES ON 11/7
Marion at Benton
W. Memphis at Jonesboro
Sylvan Hills at LR Catholic
El Dorado at Sheridan