Marion Athletics -

Marion fifth-year head coach, Lance Clark, was searching for the right metaphor for his team's 2025 performance when it suddenly hit him.

His hands moved up and down as he described the peaks and valleys of his team's season two days before Marion plays in the state quarterfinals for the fifth time in eight years.

“There were times this year where we were playing a lot of good notes, more good than bad,” said Clark, a Huntsville, Alabama native. “Then, there was a stretch in the middle of the year where it was the wrong notes, wrong tone, wrong tenor, definitely not a full orchestra. Now, the last few weeks, we are back to playing a lot of good notes, maybe not all on the same page, but you like what you're hearing.”

Marion's (7-4 overall) first-round playoff victory last Friday night at Van Buren plays directly into Clark's comparison.

His Patriots played a bevy of good, pleasing notes in the 32-29 road victory over the Pointers.
More than 600 yards of offense, erasing a pair of nine-point, second-half deficits, and ultimately, Marion's 10^th postseason victory of the modern playoff era (since 1969).

The bad?

Three turnovers, not counting a bad snap on a punt that was recovered in the end zone for a Van Buren touchdown, and more than 200 rushing yards allowed.

“That's where you're proud, though,” said Clark. “Everything did not go our way last week. We had a lot working against us, but we kept fighting, and we found a way to win. The playoffs are about finding a way to win that week so that you get to come back the next week and do it again. If you keep winning, it doesn't really matter how you do it.”

Marion will travel to Sherwood on Friday evening for arguably the most intriguing Class 6A state quarterfinal game in the state week when the Patriots take on the Sylvan Hills Bears (9-1 overall) in a rematch of the September 26 conference opener for each team in which Marion handed Sylvan Hills its only loss so far in 2025, a dramatic 46-43 decision.

The Bears ran the table after that loss, earning a share of the 6A East conference title after beating Benton the week after the Marion contest, and earning the No. 1 playoff seed.

Sylvan Hills entered the 2025 season on a 20-game losing streak, but first-year coach Mark Kelley has re-energized the Bear football program.

“They're just really good in every phase,” said Clark. “They play with a lot of confidence, and they should. Their staff has done a great job getting guys to buy in and preaching positivity at all times. They have the record they have for a reason.”

Kelley made his name as an innovative play-caller during his time at Searcy and as Conway's offensive coordinator, and his first Sylvan Hills outfit has followed suit, averaging almost 50 points per game in 2025 behind quarterback Tyler Hampton and a pair of tailbacks (Isaiah Howell and E.J. Duckery) who have combined to rush for more than 3,000 yards.

The Bears have four receivers who deliver big plays, perhaps none more impressive than Tyler Blakely.
“Their offensive skill is just good, and makes sense,” said Clark. “The quarterback has improved dramatically over the years. They've found guys who can really run the ball, and their receivers are long and rangy and really fast. They always seem to have a good plan, but especially on offense.”

The Bear defense may not get the headlines of the offense, but Sylvan Hills allows only 28 points per game behind playmakers Cam Johnson, Malachi Summons, and Jaiden Noble.

“Their defensive linemen are on par with anybody we have seen this year,” said Clark. “They're big, tough to move, they can run for big guys, and they play really hard. They gave us fits up front when we played the first time.”

That first meeting featured Marion scoring late in the second quarter to take a 26-19 lead to halftime, and the Patriot advantage continued into the third as the visitors fashioned a 39-19 advantage, but the Bears turned it on from there, even getting the ball back late with a chance to tie or take the lead.
Marion leads the all-time series with Sylvan Hills 8-3, but the Bears won the only other playoff meeting 17-14 in the 2018 quarterfinals.

The winner of the Marion-Sylvan Hills game will advance to the state semifinals, where they will play the winner of the El Dorado-Shiloh Christian game.

HOW TO WATCH
You can watch the Marion-Sylvan Hills football game for free this week on the MPAN YouTube channel. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

CLASS 6A FOOTBALL FINAL SCORES FROM 11/14
Marion 32, Van Buren 29
El Dorado 28, Lake Hamilton 10
Mountain Home 78, Sheridan 42
Jonesboro 42, FS Southside 34

CLASS 6A FOOTBALL QUARTERFINAL GAMES ON 11/21
Marion at Sylvan Hills
El Dorado at Shiloh Christian
Jonesboro at Greenwood
Mountain Home at Benton