Marion roars past Dogs like a Lyon

By LARRY HYPES
Bluefield Daily Telegraph

October 20, 2007 01:09 am

— TAZEWELL, Va. — Marion got the Lyon’s-share of yardage and scored a hard-fought Southwest District win over Tazewell Friday.
Fullback Thomas Lyon scored five touchdowns and picked up 240 yards on 31 carries to pace the Scarlet Hurricane (4-4, 2-3) to a 49-28 triumph over the Bulldogs.
The scrappy Bulldogs (0-8, 0-5) did not get their first win, but consistently battled back against the larger MHS team, tying the score at 15-15 before halftime and staying close until the Hurricane piled up 21 fourth quarter points.
Matt Muncy led Tazewell with 118 yards rushing and 173 more passing on 9-of-21 attempts, including an 83-yard touchdown pass to Josh Mitchem.
Muncy was aided by a solid effort from the offensive line quintet of Jonathan Baldwin, Mike Elkins, Cameron Young, Darrius Richmond, and Bruiser Moore.
“We played hard and I was real pleased to see us answer back time and time again tonight,” noted Bulldog coach Bobby Wyatt. “This is frustrating to our players but we know the answer — it’s in the weight room.
“When we get stronger we’ll make those defensive plays and we’ll win.”
Marion notched 445 yards rushing and threw only one pass in the game. Lyon helped the Hurricane to victory with scoring runs of 3, 8, 2, 20, and 11 yards, and added a two-yard conversion for a dazzling 32-point effort.
Samuel Burrows had an outstanding effort as well, piling up 196 yards rushing on 22 carries with a pair of five-yard touchdown runs.
T.J. Rasnick thrilled the crowd with a reverse-field scamper for a seven yard score and fullback Andrew Rhudy bulled his way over tacklers for a 17-yard touchdown for Tazewell. Rhudy, who finished with 40 yards, added a two-point conversion run.
Rasnick also blocked a Scarlet Hurricane kick attempt and had the only punt of the game, a 39-yard boot.
Muncy zipped a strike to Mitchem at midfield with 3:02 remaining in the first half. Mitchem caught the ball at midfield and exploded into the end zone for the touchdown.
Luis Asbury’s fumble recovery set up Rasnick’s score with 11:48 left in the game as Tazewell pulled to within six, at 28-22.
Marion led in first downs 23-12 and was penalized four times for 40 yards. Tazewell drew three flags for 30.
Tazewell travels to Grundy Friday.

Marion (4-4)......................................................7 14 7 21 — 49
Tazewell (0-8)....................................................0 15 0 13 — 28
First Quarter
MR—Lyon 3 yrun (Akers kick)
Second Quarter
TZ—Rhudy 17 run (Rasnick kick)
MR—Lyon 8 run (Lyon run)
TZ—Mitchem 83 pass from Muncy (Rhudy run)
MR—Lyon 2 run (kick blocked)
Third Quarter
MR—Burrows 5 run (Akers kick)
Fourth Quarter
TZ—Rasnick 7-yard run (Rasnick kick)
MR—Lyon 20 run (Akers kick)
MR—Lyon 11 run (Akers kick)
MR—Burrows 5 run (Akers kick)

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