Class 4A No. 2 Pella cruised to victory over Marion

MARION – Marion got its most difficult district test out of the way early.

It revealed there is a mountain of work to do for the Wolves.

Class 4A No. 2 Pella – the defending state runner-up – used its offense and defense to score as it built a five-touchdown lead by halftime and cruised to victory, 48-0, in the District 4 high school football opener for both schools Friday night at Marion High School.

“We need to execute better on offense,” Marion Coach Michael Joyner said. “We need to show that fire when we get an opportunity. We need to capitalize on it instead of always squandering our opportunities.”

Marion (1-4, 0-1) managed just 49 yards of total offense, three first downs and turned the ball over three times. The Wolves still are searching for offensive answers ever since presumptive starting quarterback Andrew Ahmann – who started six games under center last year – had elbow surgery after the summer baseball season.

Four of Marion’s 11 starters on offense are sophomores. This was the third time in five games that the Wolves failed to score.

“The lack of depth on our team really hurts,” Joyner said. “We don’t have enough guys out right now because our best players have to play both ways and they get tired. That is a big thing. We can’t necessarily ask for more because they are already giving their all.”

Senior tailback Emmanuel Diers ran for 133 yards – all in the first half – and scored the first two touchdowns of the game for Pella (5-0, 1-0), while senior quarterback Michael Manning totaled 119 passing yards and tossed three touchdown passes.

Pella defensive lineman Benjamin Griffith returned an interception 13 yards for a touchdown.

“They make fewer mistakes than their opponents, usually,” Joyner said. “Their suffocating defense allows their offense the ability to make mistakes. To me, yes, they are a good team. They are not the best team we have seen. That was West Delaware, to be honest with you.”

The Wolves’ defense also is missing a key piece. Senior cornerback Elliott Zrudsky has been sidelined all season with a stress fracture in his foot. Defensive bright spots for Marion (1-4, 0-1) included junior defensive back Tyler Davis, who recovered a fumble and senior linebacker Kolby Beltz, who recorded a quarterback.

Marion visits Clear Creek Amana next week.

“We’re focusing on ourselves,” Joyner said. “What we have to do is not be willing to not come to practice and give it our best shot.”

“We have to bring intensity to practice. We have to bring that willingness and that want to get better. We are going to focus in on ourselves, try to make fewer mistakes at practice because the fewer mistakes we make at practice, the fewer mistakes we will make in a game situation.”

BOXSCORE

Pella 48, Marion 0

AT MARION

Pella, Marion

First Downs 15, 3

Rushes-yards 33-217, 23-29

Comp-Att-Int 13-21-0, 4-13-2

Passing yards 162, 20

Total yards 379, 49

Punts-avg. 1-35.0, 6-29.2

Fumbles-lost 1-1, 2-1

Penalties-yards 3-20, 3-25

Pella 14 21 7 6—48

Marion 0 0 0 0—0

Pella – Emmanuel Diers 9 run (Nile Roe kick)

Pella – Emmanuel Diers 8 run (Nile Roe kick)

Pella – Logan VanDenBroek 5 pass from Michael Manning (Nile Roe kick)

Pella – Benjamin Griffith 13 interception return (Nile Roe kick)

Pella – Blake DeHeus 4 pass from Michael Manning (Nile Roe kick)

Pella – Max Stelpflug 30 pass from Michael Manning (Nile Roe kick)

Pella – Tyler Thorson 1 run (pass failed)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – Pella: Emmanuel Diers 15-133, Michael Manning 2-(-11), Riker Branderhorst 4-26, Griffin Simpson 1-5, Gage Brandenhorst 1-9, William Schuknecht 6-27, Bryce Ligman 2-18, Jesse Chapman 1-9, Tyler Thorson 1-1; Marion: Lucas Stearns 2-(-10), Logan Hendricks 8-28, Colton Taylor 9-22, Elijah Dreyer 1-(-13), Nathan Garcia 2-2, Aiden Hess 1-0.

PASSING – Pella: Michael Manning 8-14-0-119, Griffin Simpson 5-6-0-43, Emmanuel Diers 0-1-0-0; Marion: Lucas Stearns 3-12-2-14, Logan Hendricks 1-1-0-6, Aiden Hess 0-1-0-0.

RECEIVING – Pella: Emmanuel Diers 1-13, Blake DeHeus 3-16, Hunter Brummel 1-27, Logan VanDenBroek 2-10, Max Stelpflug 3-67, Ryder Paxton 1-3, Gage Brandenhorst 1-17, William Schuknecht 1-9; Marion: Colton Taylor 2-14, Lucas Stearns 1-6.

Comments: dem52314@yahoo.com