Marion takes loss in Thomas Park finale hard

MARION — With it being their final home game and the last time ever playing at Thomas Park Field, the Marion Wolves wanted it to end on a high note.

It was no fairy-tale ending, however, with Marion suffering a heartbreaking loss to the Mason City Mohawks.

The Wolves lost, 22-21, when a 49-yard field goal attempt by senior Spencer Angell with less than a minute remaining in the fourth quarter missed its mark Friday night.

“Our plan was we were always going to go with the field goal to try and win the game,” Marion Coach Joyner said. “There are so many plays in a football game, that there is not one specific person on this field that played for us tonight, who is responsible for this loss.”

Marion quarterback Alex Mota, however, and had a stellar game, leading the Wolves with 179 yards rushing and three touchdowns.

The first two quarters went well for the Wolves with an interception and a 32-yard touchdown run by Mota. He scored again on a 45-yard run to make it 14-0.

The Mohawks responded with a touchdown pass from Kale Hobart to senior wide receiver Carter Thomas. They scored the two-point conversion to make it 14-8.

That two-point conversion would be the difference.

Mason City capitalized on a Mota fumble in the third quarter with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Hobart to his other senior wide receiver, Corey Minor, to take its first lead, 15-14.

Marion responded with a 2-yard touchdown run by Mota to retake the lead, 21-15. Hobart, however, then scored on a 1-yard run for what turned out to be the game-winning points.

Joyner said he still believes in his team and knows they can improve before the season finale and make adjustments going into next season.

“We all have to carry that loss with us,” he said. “We somehow, as a team, have to find our way over that hump. The kids took this final game personally. We really wanted to put our final home games on the field with a couple of wins.

“Even though we could not get the job done, Thomas Park Field has a special place for all of Marion. That includes alumni, the families and the traditions here at this stadium and it is a really special place for us, and we hope to bring some of that special magic with us to our new stadium.”