It was a long night for the Marietta High football team as the Tigers fell to Gallia Academy 63-13 Friday at Don Drumm Stadium.
Gallia did most of its damage on big plays, as it scored seven of its nine touchdowns on plays of 20 yards or longer.
"Big plays made all the difference," said Gallia head coach Mike Eddy. "We had some huge runs early on that really broke the game open."
Article Photos
JORDAN HOLLAND The Marietta Times
Marietta High’s Garrett Davis runs at teammate Connor Beavers (15) during a pre-game punting drill at Don Drumm Stadium Friday night. MHS went on to drop a 63-13 decision to Gallia Academy.
While Marietta was able to move the ball well through the air, it got little to show for it.
Marietta head coach Adam Eichhorn said the mentality of the team hurt its performance on the field.
"The biggest thing for us as coaches is doing a better job of getting these guys mentally prepared," Eichhorn said. "We felt we came out not in the state of mind we needed to be. That's on us as coaches. That's the biggest thing that we have to get straightened out."
Fact Box
Gallia Academy 63, Marietta 13
G- 21 28 7 7 - 63
M- 7 6 0 0 - 13
1st quarter
G- Jarrell 11 run, Saunders kick, 8:42
G- Pullins 41 pass from Jarrell, Saunders kick, 4:06
M- Coffield 60 pass from Kimbrough, 3:41
G- Warnimont 74 run, Saunders kick, 3:23
2nd quarter
G- Jarrell 27 run, Saunders kick, 9:02
G- Bailey 58 pass from Jarrell, Saunders kick, 7:45
G- Jarrell 20 run, Saunders kick, 5:33
G- Clagg 30 fumble recovery, 5:12
M- Wright 3 pass from Kimbrough, kick failed, 0:31
3rd quarter
G- Russell 1 run, Saunders kick, 0:35
4th quarter
G- Allison 28 run, Saunders kick, 11:09
Gallia stats: Total yards: 524; Rushing: 42-338 (Jarrell 9-86, 3td; Warnimont 2-78, 1td; Clagg 7-55; Pullins 9-53; Allison 4-33, 1td; Russell 5-3, 1td); Passing: 5-10-156 (Jarrell 5-8-156, 2td); Receiving: 5-156 (Bailey 3-87, 1td; Pullins 1-41, 1td; Atkins 1-28)
Penalties/yards: 9/81
Punts/Avg: 3/30
Turnovers: 0
Marietta stats: Total yards: 274; Rushing: 10-26 (Kimbrough 7-23; Coffield 3-3); Passing: 24-44-248 (Kimbrough 24-44-248, 2td, 2int); Receiving: 24-248 (Wright 14-124, 1td; Coffield 4-87, 1td; Beavers 2-22; Spurr 1-13; Setterstrom 1-2)
Penalties/yards: 10/76
Punts/Avg: 5/33.5
Turnovers: 4
Next game: Vinton County at Gallia 7:30 p.m. Friday; Marietta at River View at 7 p.m. Friday
Gallia struck first on its opening possession. After a 21 yard pass from quarterback Wade Jarrell to receiver Justin Bailey set the Blue Devils up, Jarrell took it himself 11 yards for a touchdown.
After a three and out by Marietta, the Blue Devils got the ball back. The Tigers held Gallia to a three and out, but the Blue Devils recovered a muffed punt on the Marietta 46 yard line, and scored on a 41 yard screen pass from Jarrell to running back Luke Pullins.
The Dylan Saunders extra point put the Blue Devils up 14-0. Marietta got on board on its next drive. After a 10 yard screen pass to Coffield put the ball on Gallia's 40, quarterback Anthony Kimbrough again hit Coffield, this time on a deep 60 yard pass for the touchdown. Brent Huck added the PAT to make the score 14-7.
Gallia quickly answered on the first play of its next drive with a 74 yard touchdown run by Ty Warnimont. Two possessions later, Gallia scored on a 27 yard run by Jarrell, which was set up by a 28 yard pass from Jarrell to Seth Atkins.
After a three and out by the Tigers, Gallia scored on the first play of its drive again, this time on a 58 yard touchdown pass from Jarrell to Bailey. Saunders added the PAT to make it 35-7.
On the next Tiger possession, Gallia got its first interception of the season to set the Blue Devils up at the Marietta 47. After advancing to the Tiger 20, Jarrell would take it himself again for the score.
Marietta turned the ball over again on its next possession, this time on a failed pitch attempt. The ball was scooped up by defensive back Nick Clagg and taken 30 yards to the house. Saunders added his seventh point after to put Gallia up 49-7.
Marietta got one back at the end of the half. The Kimbrough to Chance Wright connection got the Tigers 43 yards through the air on the drive, including a three yard score with 31 seconds left in the half. The kick failed to make the score 49-13. Marietta came out firing in the second half, reaching the Gallia Academy red zone on its first two drives. Unfortunately for the Tigers, the drives ended on an interception and a turnover on downs. After the turnover on downs by Marietta, Gallia capitalized with a one yard touchdown run by Cody Russell. The score was set up by a 52 yard run by Nick Clagg.
On the ensuing kickoff, Marietta fumbled and the Blue Devils recovered at the Tiger 31 yard line. Logan Allison ended up scoring from 28 yards out, and after the Saunders kick, the score was 63-13. Jarrell led the Blue Devils with 86 yards on 9 carries and three touchdowns. Jarrell was also 5-8 passing for 156 yards and two scores. Bailey had three catches and 87 yards and a score to lead the receivers.
For MHS, Kimbrough was 24-44 passing for 248 yards and two scores. Wright had a big day receiving with 14 catches for 124 yards and a touchdown. Coffield also had 4 catches for 87 yards and a score. Kimbrough was the Tigers' leading rusher with 23 yards on seven carries.
Will Cogswell had a sack while Eddie Kimbrough had two tackles for losses.
Gallia, now 2-2 on the season, will be back home next week to take on Vinton County. The Tigers, now 1-3, begin East Central Ohio league action next week as they travel to face River View at 7 p.m.
