Marion opens Class 4A district play with balanced win over Waterloo East

MARION — Marion was clicking on all cylinders Friday.

Offense. Defense. Special teams. There wasn’t an area of weakness for the Wolves (2-3, 1-0) in a 31-7 Class 4A-2 district opening victory over Waterloo East.

The win was Marion’s third straight over the Trojans (1-4, 0-1).

“We were able to take advantage of the things we saw and I’m really proud of our guys for executing,” Marion Coach Michael Joyner said.

In his second game replacing injured three-year starter Kaleb Diers, junior quarterback Andrew Ahmann led the Wolves to an opening touchdown drive, taking advantage of a short 23-yard field.

Ahmann hit Matthew Danninger in stride on the third play of the possession for a 20-yard score at the 8:17 mark of the first quarter.

“He’s (Ahmann) a very capable quarterback,” Joyner said. “We’re going to work on helping his decision making and the guys around him helping him too.”

Marion punted just once in the first half — and it was a boot. Noah Case drilled a kick that traveled 81 net yards and pinned East at the Wolves’ 1.

“Noah is playing banged up and he’s toughing through it,” Joyner said. “He’s probably practicing one or two days a week, but he just comes up and he’s gamer.”

The Wolves’ defense forced a three-and-out following Case’s punt, setting the offense up with another short field.

A drive to the Trojan 16 set Landon Tilkes up to drill a 33-yard field goal.

“The nice thing about having a kicker is, it’s never an automatic three, but it gives you an extra option to have a positive experience come out of the drive and get points,” Joyner said. “And that keeps the offense confident and ready to go.”

Early in the second, Ahmann found his favorite target Danninger for another score, this one a 36-yard strike giving Marion a 17-0 lead.

“His (Danninger) playing time got decreased a couple weeks ago because we wanted to see a little bit more,” Joyner said. “And we’re seeing a lot more now.”

Lucas Horak picked off a Trojan pass late in the second quarter.

At the 10:13 mark in the third, Kolby Beltz blocked a punt and Tilkes recovered the loose ball and ran it 2 yards to the end zone.

“Kolby Beltz has worked his tail off,” Joyner said. “He started out at free safety and we are kind of moving him around a bit. He showed he can do the things we need him to do.”

Tilkes hit a 28-yard field goal late in the third to give Marion a commanding, 27-0, lead.

Shortly after, Beltz belted East’s quarterback in the end zone. The hit jarred the ball loose as it rolled through the back of the end zone for a safety.

The Wolves forced another safety shortly after.

Corban McCoy intercepted an East pass late in the fourth to seal the win.

Marion will travel to Western Dubuque on Friday, while East hosts Mason City.

Marion 31, Waterloo East 7

AT MARION FOOTBALL FIELD

TEAM STATISTICS

First downs: EAST 5, MAR 9

Passing yards: EAST 106, MAR 70

Rushing yards: EAST 29, MAR 19

Comp-att-int: EAST 8-23-2, MAR 6-16-0

Fumbles-lost: EAST 0-0, MAR 0-0

Total yards: EAST 135, MAR 116

Punts-average: EAST 6-28.3, MAR 6-46.2

Penalties-yards: EAST 11-86, MAR 6-40

SCORING SUMMARY

Waterloo East 0 0 0 7— 7

Marion 10 7 12 2 — 31

Marion — Matthew Danninger 20 pass from Andrew Ahmann (Landon Tilkes kick)

Marion —Landon Tilkes 33 field goal

Marion — Matthew Danninger 36 pass from Andrew Ahmann (Landon Tilkes kick)

Marion — Logan Tilkes 2 run (Landon Tilkes kick)

Marion —Landon Tilkes 28 field goal

Marion —Team safety

Marion —Team safety

Waterloo East — Gianni Gary 57 pass from Jah’Khi Parker (Adrian Alejo-Rubio kick)

Individual Statistics

Rushing – Waterloo East: Jah’Khi Parker 9-5, Tyrone Parrow 7-14, Isaac Lomas, Chris Pierce 6-10, Tariq Moore 1-0, Gianni Gary 1-(minus 1), Misc. 1-(minus 27). Marion: Creighton Wheeler 8-(minus 4), Aden Nicholls 12-37, Cael Schultz 7-23, Andrew Ahmann 4-(minus 7), Matthew Danninger 1-(minus 3).

Passing – Waterloo East Chris Pierce 5-17-41-1, Jah’Khi Parker 3-6-65-1. Marion: Andrew Ahmann 6-16-70-0.

Receiving – Waterloo East: Gianni Gary 4-85, Isaac Lomas 1-10, Jah’Khi Parker 2-11. Marion: Matthew Danninger 3-67, Aden Nicholls 1-5, Creighton Wheeler 1-(minus 2).