Marion is motivated -- and mammoth up front

MARION -- Finish.

The Marion Indians' football buzzword is brief, bold and to the point.

Finish.

It didn't happen last year. Instead of finishing, the Indians fizzled.

"We kind of lost our heart at the end," said lineman Zach Borens.

Borens saw it from one side of the offensive line. Mitch Ross saw it from the other.

"We didn't have the passion we needed," Ross said. "We were worried more about what we were going to do after the season."

It all ended earlier than the Indians figured. After a 7-0 start, they dropped a 41-35 heartbreaker to Wes Burnside and Union in a game that determined the Class 3A District 5 title, then came up flat in a Week 9 loss at Maquoketa.

The slide carried into the postseason: Grinnell ended Marion's season, 10-0, in the first round of the 3A playoffs.

The road to redemption is under way. Marion's first practices in pads was Thursday.

"I was anxious to get out and hit somebody," Ross said.

Ross (6-foot-2, 300 pounds) and Borens (6-8, 340) are gigantic bookends to Marion's offensive line. Guards Justin Dolley and Tristan Beghtol are 220 pounds apiece.

"I'm very excited about our size," said Indians Coach Tony Perkins. "But when you have size, you have to have depth behind it because the big kids tend to get tired. If you're 300 pounds, you can't play both ways, a full game. You just can't."

When they're on the offensive side, they'll be blocking for skill players led by Colton Storla, who rushed for 1,250 yards and 15 touchdowns last year.

Jake McDonald returns after leading the defense with 128 tackles (13 for loss).

Marion's varsity consists of 44 players -- 34 juniors and 10 seniors. The line is junior-dominated.

But they don't want to wait until next year to make a deep run.

"Last year's ending motivated us a lot," Borens said. "I think we're definitely state-championship-caliber. Our O-line is back and we've got some powerhouse backs."

The Indians open Aug. 26 at Mount Vernon.

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