Marysville’s Jarret Braun picks up yardage against Dublin Coffman on Friday. The Monarchs fell 28-7.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Chad Williamson
––––
A racehorse that fades in the backstretch isn’t going to win very many races and that’s just what the Marysville football team is starting to resemble.
A 28-7 loss at Dublin Coffman on Friday marks the fourth loss of the season for the Monarchs. In each of those losses, Marysville either led or was within one score of the lead in the fourth quarter. Marysville trailed just 7-0 after three quarters, but gave up 21 points in the final stanza as the Shamrocks cruised to an easy win.
“In the fourth quarter the wheels fell off,” MHS coach Brent Johnson said after the loss, which dropped the Monarchs’ record to 2-4.
The problem for the local squad is that games are not 36 minutes long. As the MHS fan base is coming to learn, the final 12 minutes can be torturous.
“We’re so close to being a good team,” Johnson said.
The problem for the Monarchs is not fatigue as the local squad seems to have gas left in the tank. Johnson agreed that the problem has got to be a mental block that keeps the Monarchs from taking that next step and putting teams away.
“We need to create our own breaks,” Johnson said.
Marysville’s usually potent ground game was held in check by a Coffman defensive line that was physical at the point of attack and allowed its talented linebackers to fill holes like guided missiles. The Monarchs could only manage 61 yards on 35 attempts, as the top three Monarch ground gainers failed to crack 20 yards.
In a complete role reversal, MHS quarterback Walker Heard completed 6-of-8 passes for 111 yards and a touchdown, including a 62-yard bomb.
On the other side of the ball, the Monarchs widened out their defenders after watching the Shamrocks attack other teams at the perimeter. The result was the Coffman’s big offensive line being unleashed to maul the Monarch defensive front.
The Shamrock line ripped open big holes for burner Cam Scott (120 yards and three touchdowns) and 5’7, 202-pound bowling ball Gavin Sturdivant (91 yards). Coffman finished the game with 202 yards on the ground and another 70 through the air.
Marysville’s offense had little success in the first quarter, but the defense managed to stuff the Shamrocks on fourth down at the MHS 35 to end an early Dublin march.
Coffman’s second possession of the quarter was a bruising assault that needed only a couple of minutes to push 75 yards to paydirt.
Early in the second quarter, Scott took a handoff on the five-yard-line. He powered his way into the end zone, driving back a handful of Monarch defenders. Jordan Drye’s point after put the score at 7-0 just 37 seconds into the second quarter.
Following another Monarch punt, Dublin took the ball near midfield and quickly moved into the red zone, as Sturdivant rumbled for a 36-yard gain through massive hole.
The Monarch defense rose up to allow just six yards over the next three plays, leaving Coffman with fourth down.
Rather than try a field goal, the Shamrocks attempted a pass that was batted away by a Marysville defender in the end zone.
Neither team mounted much offense through the rest of the half.
Monarch punter Bodie Eberhart boomed a punt from his own 25 to the Coffman 7 late in the quarter and the Shamrocks did not have enough clock to march 93 yards.
Marysville’s defense played much better in the third period as the adjustments focused on stopping the Shamrocks between the tackles.
Following a Coffman punt, MHS picked up a quick first down from Jarret Braun, but Heard then left the game with an ankle injury.
Jarrett Karnes came in under center but could not jump-start the Monarch offense. Eberhart’s punt was blocked and Coffman was on it at the MHS 9.
Marysville’s defensive adjustments continued to pay dividends and the local squad forced Coffman to settle for a 21-yard field goal attempt. The snap was bad on the boot and the MHS defense swallowed up the Shamrock holder at the 22.
Still, the Monarch offense sputtered and punted the ball away.
The Shamrocks took possession at their own 40 with just under three minutes left in the third.
The Shamrocks appeared ready to give the ball right back, facing third-and-10. However, QB Marcus Ernst hit Scott on a well-designed screen. Scott followed a convoy of blockers for 28 yards and a first down.
Dublin moved down to the MHS 13 as the clock expired in the third quarter and Coffman still leading 7-0.
The margin only lasted a play into the fourth quarter, as Scott picked up his second touchdown and Drye booted the PAT for a 14-0 Shamrock lead, seven seconds into the final period.
Heard returned to action on his injured ankle, but instead of easing him back into the flow of the game, the MHS coaching staff did what they almost never do. They let him chuck it deep.
Heard lofted a deep ball up the right hash that appeared thrown more to a spot than a man. Eberhart was in the area and was able to accelerate under the pigskin at full speed. He took it into the end zone for a 62-yard touchdown.
Thomas Wolfe hit the PAT and the Monarchs were still in a one-possession game with 11:47 left in the contest.
Once again, the Monarch defense forced a punt.
Marysville had the ball, and momentum, at its own 15 with 8:34 left to play.
It’s funny how quickly momentum can, however, leave a team when the ball is put on the turf. On the first play of the possession, the Monarchs fumbled and Dublin recovered at the 17.
One play later, Scott had his third TD of the game and the Shamrocks moved out to a 21-7 lead.
Marysville went three-and-out and punted.
The Shamrock offense went back to work as a close game turned ugly.
Darius Cummings put the final nail in the Monarch coffin with an easy eight-yard touchdown run. Drye’s extra point closed out the scoring at 28-7 with 1:24 left in the game.
The Monarchs will host Westland for their Homecoming game on Friday.