Chris Mohwinkle, Ju’Corey Higgins share the wealth for Marion

MARION — The coaches call the plays. The backs determine the carrier.

'We're split backs, and we just rotate,' Chris Mohwinkle said of his relationship with backfield partner Ju'Corey Higgins. 'We decide who gets the ball. It's like, 'You take this one, I'll take the next one.''

The tandem combined for 279 rushing yards — 151 by Higgins, 128 by Mohwinkle — and Marion handled Center Point-Urbana, 34-8, in a Class 3A District 4 football game Friday night at Thomas Park Field.

'They just feed off each other and block for each other,' Marion Coach Tim Lovell said after the Indians improved to 4-2 overall, 3-1 in the district. 'They're starting to figure out how good they can be when they give maximum effort.'

Mohwinkle scored three touchdowns, on runs of 3, 22 and 16 yards. The Indians netted 406 yards, compared to 180 for the Stormin' Pointers (3-3, 1-3).

'We're still struggling with penalties; they've been the bane of our existence,' Lovell said. 'We still have to play calm, collected, smart football.'

The Indians were flagged eight times for 86 yards.

Marion had an advantage in just about every facet in the first half. Most importantly, the Indians had field position in their favor, and cashed it in for a couple of scores for a 14-0 halftime advantage.

After turning it over on downs at the CPU 7-yard line on their second possession, the Indians opened their next march at the Stormin' Pointers' 37. Five plays later, they were in the end zone.

Trevor Paulsen capped it with a 3-yard quarterback keeper. The PAT was blocked.

Marion started its next series at its own 43 after snuffing out a fake-punt try. On the second play, Higgins got loose for a 41-yard run, and a personal foul moved it to the CPU 3. Mohwinkle took it from there, then added the two-point conversion.

The Indians accumulated 205 yards in the first half, CPU 100.

Marion sandwiched a pair of Mohwinkle TDs around a Mitchell McCauley 2-yard run, then Blair Brooks capped the scoring with a 30-yard TD reception from Paulsen with 5:18 left.

The Stormin' Pointers managed just 2.6 yards per play.

'This was our best effort defensively,' Lovell said. 'It really started last week. They're starting to understand that when they play fast and physical, good things will happen.'

Marion plays at Clear Creek Amana next week. CPU is at Davenport Assumption.

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