Marion head coach Claude Johnson wanted to be in the game on Friday night at Southern Bancorp Stadium in the fourth quarter against second-ranked Sylvan Hills.
Johnson’s troops did just that, but were not able to pull off the upset against the explosive Bears.
Sylvan Hills slipped Marion 55-24 on Friday night in the 6A East conference opener after the Patriots committed four turnovers, one of which was returned for a touchdown.
Marion racked up its most yards since Week 1 at Lake Hamilton, producing 358 yards, including 256 through the air.
The Pats trailed just 20-10 at halftime against Sylvan Hills, which entered averaging 49 points per game, and just 27-17 after three quarters, but the Bears scored twice in the early portion of the final frame to pull away.
MHS senior quarterback Ben Bateman completed 20 of 33 passes against the Bears for 256 yards and a TD toss to Jaylon Ford, who caught five passes for 76 yards. Senior athlete Kam Riley rushed for 101 yards and two TDs, and he added eight receptions for 112 yards.
Sylvan Hills got a 13-yard touchdown run from senior E.J. Duckery with 1:32 left in the first quarter, and the extra point staked the visitors to a 7-0 lead after the initial frame.
The Bears doubled their lead to 14-0 with 8:12 left in the second quarter when Isaiah Howell ran 5 yards to paydirt for his first score of the night.
Marion dented the scoreboard with 3:10 left in the first half when senior kicker Brody Wasion booted a 32-yard field goal to get the Patriots within 14-3.
Sylvan Hills finished its third straight touchdown drive of the first half with 1:02 left in the second quarter when quarterback Caden Burnett ran 4 yards to the paint, but a blocked extra point kept the Bears' lead at just 20-3 late in the first half.
Marion marched 72 yards in 5 plays, hitting paydirt when quarterback Ben Bateman hit senior Kam Riley for a 7-yard TD toss with no time left on the clock to get Marion within 20-10 at halftime.
Howell came up with his second TD run of the night with 5:44 left in the third quarter, and the extra point gave the Bears a 27-10 lead.
But Riley ran to the end zone from 4 yards out with 47 seconds left in the third period to get Marion within 27-17 to open the fourth quarter.
Howell struck again with 9:28 left in regulation when he zipped 17 yards to the paint for his third score that gave Sylvan Hills some breathing room at 34-17.
Marion muffed the ensuing kickoff and the Bears recovered, quickly turning it into points when Burnett hit Duckery for a 31-yard TD toss with 7:47 remaining that moved the Bear advantage to 41-17.
Riley scored his third TD of the night with 6:12 left to get Marion within 41-24, and the Patriots forced a Bear punt on the ensuing possession, but disaster struck when Sylvan Hills linebacker Brian Dixson recovered a Patriot fumble and returned it 61 yards for a TD and a 48-24 lead with 4:15 left.
Dixson added to his turnover total on Marion's ensuing drive, intercepting a pass, and the Bears capped the scoring on a 76-yard run from senior Will Moore.
CLASS 6A RESULTS FROM 9/25
Sylvan Hills 55, Marion 24
Benton 27, Jonesboro 26
Searcy 52, El Dorado 31
Sheridan 67, W. Memphis 29
Lake Hamilton 43, FS Southside 26
Mountain Home 13, LR Catholic 7
Russellville 16, LR Southwest 12
Van Buren 70, Siloam Springs 14
CLASS 6A GAMES ON 10/2
Marion at El Dorado
Sheridan at Jonesboro
Benton at Sylvan Hills
Searcy at W. Memphis
LR Catholic at Lake Hamilton
Siloam Springs at LR Southwest
Russellville at Mountain Home
FS Southside at Van Buren