Marlow hands Comanche loss in district opener

A bad start against rival Marlow proved to be the difference in a 42-13 win for the Outlaws in Comanche last Friday night.

“I feel like it was a little bit repetitive from Lone Grove in that we had a bad start and put ourselves in a hole,” said Casy Rowell, Comanche coach. “We showed moments that we could play with them, but we can’t afford key turnovers and key penalties, especially down in the red zone early. It really cost us.”

Before the large crowd could settle into its seat, Marlow was up 28-0, scoring four touchdowns in less than 10 game-time minutes.

The Outlaws started their first two drives inside the Comanche 20-yard line thanks to a pair of big punt returns. Quarterback Jace Gilbert scored on a run and a pass and running backs Julian Marroquin and Chase Knight each scored a touchdown to put the Outlaws up 28-0 with 2:16 to go in the first quarter. The touchdown pass deflected off of one Marlow receiver into the another in the end zone as Marlow was catching all the breaks in the first quarter.

Comanche then started to find a groove as the Indians drove 80 yards for their first score, capped off by a 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback Kooper Doucet.

The score would remain that way until halftime.

Marlow would go back up by four scores in the third quarter on another touchdown run by Knight and then put the game away in the fourth quarter on a 7-yard run by Cole Hayes to go up 42-7.

The Indians’ last score came on a short impromptu shovel pass from Doucet to Mason Kulbeth, who then ran down the sideline for the score to make the final, 42-13.

Neither team held on to the ball well at times. Both had four turnovers with Comanche’s Devon McCarty picking off two passes to lead the defense.

“Looking back at that first quarter, everybody was like ‘woulda, coulda, shoulda,’ but we have to learn to get better,” Rowell said. “To me, it’s a pattern now and we need learn how we can fix that, we will take another step in becoming a good football team.”

He was proud of the way his team did not quit after getting down so quickly, but continued to fight.

“I know we’ve got fighters. I know they’re tough, and I don’t doubt that,” Rowell said. “We’re just learning to play football and we’re seeing that it’s the very, very little things that separate good teams from the great teams and its things like not getting penalties and not committing turnovers.”

This week

Comanche (2-2 overall, 0-1 2A District 4) hits the road for the second time this season as the Indians travel to Davis.

The Wolves (3-1, 1-0) defeated Tishomingo, 33-6, last week in their district opener.
Davis is known for its run-oriented offense and Rowell said the past two games against Lone Grove and Marlow will help his team against the Wolves.

“We’ve seen what they will be like after playing the past two games,” Rowell said. “I feel like we will be prepared for them. I have confidence in our defense that they will play well.”

Stats

Rushing

Comanche: Bryson Evans, 8-18; Lake Epperson, 6-14; Kooper Doucet, 13-0, TD; Gage Allie, 6-(-5)

Marlow: Jace Gilbert, 5-83, TD; Chase Knight, 11-56, 2 TDs; Avery Payne, 3-45; Ty Scott, 2-25; Julian Marroquin, 8-11, TD; Cole Hayes, 1-7, TD; Luke Anderson, 1-2; Talon Sullivent, 4-1

Passing

Comanche: Kooper Doucet, 18-33-2, 244 yards, TD

Marlow: Jace Gilbert, 7-11-3, 93 TD

Receiving

Comanche: Mason Kulbeth, 7-85, TD; Bryson Evans, 6-71; Logan Bain, 2-56; Tucker Oliver, 2-32; Gage Allie, 1-0

Marlow: Nate Herchock, 5-67; Junior Marroquin, 2-26, TD

Total Offense

Comanche: 271 yards

Marlow: 323 yards

Defense

Comanche: Devon McCarty, 6.5 tackles, 2 INT; Owen Bigford, 5.5; Bryson Evans, 4; Kasen Vanbuskirk, 2.5; Colton Newton, 2.5; Kooper Doucet, 2; Lake Epperson, 2; Hunter Beck, 2; Justin Jamison, 1.5; Gage Allie, 1.5; Heath Hinshaw, 1; Mason Kulbeth, 1; Logan Bain, 1; Tucker Oliver, 1; Wyatt Martin, 1