Marion relies on strengths for convincing win

MARION – The Marion Indians expected their defense and Colton Storla's legs to be the strength of this year's football season.

You could say they muscled up Friday night.

The Indians defense shutdown and shutout Vinton-Shellsburg's offense and Storla rushed for 277 yards and three touchdowns in a 27-0 Class 3A District 5 prep football victory at Thomas Park.

As impressive as Storla's numbers were, coming off last week's 265-yard, seven TD performance, the defense was even better for Marion (4-1, 2-1). The Vikings managed only two first downs and 81 total yards on offense, including a mere five passing.

“We knew coming in to the season that our strong point was getting the ball to Colton and our defense,” Marion coach Tony Perkins said. “Our defense, we even have a lot of subs that come in, they all run to the football very well.

“As long as you have that strong defense and gang tackling, you're going to be successful.”

The approach is simple for the Indians defense. Each player goes all out every snap. Vinton-Shellsburg (2-3, 0-3) never seriously threatened to score.

“We have a lot of great guys that want to play hard every play,” defensive back Hunter Banes said. “Our philosophy is to play hard every play.”

Banes picked off his sixth pass of the season, which leads 3A. He has benefitted from knowing his coverage responsibilities and pressure from his teammates.

“I just do my job, drop to my drop zones and read the quarterback's eyes, knowing the ball's coming to me,” Banes said. “A lot of it is the defense getting a good pass rush so he has to throw it quick and doesn't have time to see me there.”

Banes' pick came after Marion already had a 20-0 lead thanks to two 7-yard TDs by Storla. He waltzed in nearly untouched off left tackle and then added the two-point conversion for an 8-0 with 4:52 to go in the first.

His second came with 1:06 remaining in the first half. Storla capped a 63-yard, five-play drive that lasted only 59 seconds. The touchdown was set up by a 38-yard completion from Cale Cannoy to Gunderson.

Cannoy also hit Jake McDonald on a 17-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-0 in the second quarter, finishing a 98-yard drive in a little over two minutes. Storla rumbled for 65 yards, putting the Indians deep in Vinton territory.

“He's just a special athlete,” Perkins said of Storla. “He's coming into his own now where he can run a lot of different positions.”

Marion rushed for 341 yards against a physical Vinton defense that was focused on stopping the run.

“Most of the game they had nine in the box,” Perkins said. “To get that much rushing is phenomenal. I think we kept them off balance with our motion. We trapped a lot tonight.”

Storla broke a 41-yard touchdown run in the fourth to seal the victory. He ran through, around and by defenders. He prefers contact.

“I definitely like to run through people, but whatever is there,” Storla said. “If there's a big hole, cutting up the sideline and going as fast as I can.”

The 5-foot-9, 200-pound senior running back has a goal to surpass last year's rushing totals (1,250 yards and 15 TDs). He already has 886 yards and 13 TDs this season.

“I just run as hard as I can every play,” Storla said. “I just do as best as I can for the team. Try and get that win and finish every play. Get those extra yards.”

TEAM STATISTICS

Vint.-Shells.

Marion

First downs

2

15

Rushes-yards

29 - 76

50 - 341

Passing yards

5

97

Comp-Att-Int

1 - 9 - 1

6 - 10 - 1

Total yards

81

438

Fumbles-lost

0 - 0

6 - 0

Punts-average

8 - 38.4

4 - 37.3

Penalties-yards

5 - 45

2 - 20

Rushing:

 Vint.-Shells. –

Kelyn Rickels 7-12 ,

Daniel Ervin 9-33 ,

Lincoln Riffey 2--19 ,

Gunner Tranel 11-50

 Marion –

Colton Storla 29-277 ,

Trev Biery 6-7 ,

Cale Cannoy 6-34 ,

Jake McDonald 2-2 ,

Nick Connolly 4-23 ,

Chris Spoden 1-1 ,

Brian Kinney 1--1 ,

Cedrick Williams 1--2

Passing:

 Vint.-Shells. –

Riffey 1-8-0-5 ,

Rickels 0-1-1-0

 Marion –

Cannoy 6-10-1-97

Receiving:

 Vint.-Shells. –

Rickels 1-5

 Marion –

Ethan Herren 3-31 ,

McDonald 2-28 ,

Tyler Gunderson 1-38

Vint.-Shells.

–

Marion

8

12

7

–

27

MAR - Storla 7 run (Storla rush)

MAR - McDonald 17 pass from Cannoy (rush failed)

MAR - Storla 7 run (pass failed)

MAR - Storla 41 run (Ryan Hagen kick)