PEARCY --- For the second straight week, Marion’s offense mounted a furious rally in a high-profile non-conference road game.
Unfortunately, the outcome remained the same.
Lake Hamilton claimed a 24-0 lead in the second quarter, but the visiting Patriots battled back to within 31-27 in the fourth quarter before succumbing 38-27 at Wolf Stadium.
Lake Hamilton (1-1 overall) outgained Marion just 482-473 for the game, and the Pats gained more first downs (20-18) and had a better night on third down, converting 7 of 14, while the Wolves managed just 7 of 16.
Marion senior quarterback Ben Bateman completed 23 of 41 passes at Lake Hamilton for 302 yards and 3 touchdowns, while senior playmaker Kam Riley rushed for 126 yards and caught 8 passes for 170 yards and 2 TDs.
The Wolves led by 11 points when Lake Hamilton recovered a Marion fumble near midfield, and the Wolves took the clock from 8:16 left in the fourth period to 3:07 on that possession after grinding out four first downs.
Marion got one first down on the ensuing drive, but a Reese Winston interception essentially ended the game with 1:33 left in regulation.
Lake Hamilton marched 48 yards on 9 plays with the opening kickoff, hitting paydirt when quarterback Jace Bohannon hit Sumner Young for a 16-yard touchdown toss, and the extra point made it 7-0 with 8:20 left in the first quarter.
Following a Marion three-and-out, Lake Hamilton picked up a first down and got a 22-yard field goal from Marvin Garcia to claim a 10-0 lead with 4:55 left in the first period.
Bohannon gave the Wolves a 17-0 bulge with 1:57 left in the initial frame when he ran 44 yards to paydirt on first down, and that doubled as the lead after the initial 12 minutes.
After a Marion punt, Lake Hamilton claimed a 24-0 lead when Bohannon hit Young for a 15-yard touchdown with 10:19 remaining in the first half.
Marion got on the scoreboard when senior kicker Brody Wasion boomed home a 26-yard field goal with 6:16 left in the second quarter to get the Patriots within 24-3.
Marion scored its first touchdown when Bateman hit Kam Riley for an 18-yard TD toss to get the Pats within 24-10 with 2:16 second quarter.
It took Lake Hamilton just one play to score when Bohannon hit Sumner for an 80-yard touchdown, and the Wolves led 31-10 with 1:58 left in the second quarter.
Marion responded with a TD of its own when Bateman hit Riley again for a 44-yard score to get the visitors within 31-17, and that was the tally at halftime.
Wasion boomed a 35-yard field goal with 7:06 left in the third period to move Marion within 31-20, and a Bateman touchdown pass to Jaylon Ford from 7 yards out made it 31-27 at the end of the third.
Lake Hamilton embarked on a 12-play, 55-yard drive that lasted just over four minutes when Bohannon ran 2 yards to paydirt for a 38-27 lead.
Marion lost a fumble on the ensuing drive, allowing Lake Hamilton to run the clock down.
WHAT’S NEXT
Marion hosts Class 7A Conway on Friday, September 11, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. with the first look at the Marion Patriot Pride Band’s entrance, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and recognition of First Responders Night in honor of the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.