There are three major phases of the game in modern football, and winning teams must be sound in every area to win at a high level.
For the fourth-ranked Marion Patriots (3-1 overall, 1-0 6A East), they have gotten game-changing performances on both sides of the ball as the season nears the midway point.
Marion has been lucky in 2025 to have veteran special teams coordinator Terry Johnson, as well as defensive coordinator Tate Benton, and offensive coordinator Dylan Musselman on staff, directing their respective units to compete.
Patriot special teams have come up with big plays in just about every contest this season, including a crucial blocked punt in last Friday night's thrilling 46-43 victory at Sylvan Hills.
“Our job as coaches is to put guys in the best positions to succeed,” said Johnson, who's been at Marion more than a decade. “We have had some success this year because our kids have bought into what we're trying to do, we have made some big plays in games, and we have been sound. It's been a fun year so far.”
Johnson was in charge of a philosophical shift for Marion's special teams during the off-season, emphasizing more onside kicks and directional kickoffs, while embracing the idea of trying to flip the field with punts instead of more aggressiveness on fourth down.
In a twist of fate, Marion recruited senior Brody Byrd and junior Brody Wasion to punt and kick, respectively, and the results have been phenomenal. Byrd is averaging more than 30 yards per punt, with two downed inside the 20-yard line, while Wasion has made 15 of 21 extra points in his first season.
“We got really lucky with those two,” said Johnson. “They're smart kids, and they like what they do. They've given us a huge lift since they came to us.”
While Johnson has history in Marion at this point, Benton and Mussleman are almost brand new to the Patriot football program.
Benton has coached football at every level shy of the NFL, including ultra-successful stints at Mississippi State University and Vanderbilt.
Mussleman played high school football for Marion head coach Lance Clark, and cut his teeth as a young coach in his native Alabama and later on in Iowa.
It took the new coordinators very little time to warm fans up to them.
Marion's offense dazzled in a 60-27 victory over Wynne in the 2025 season-opener before again scoring 50 points in a dominant 51-7 victory Week 1 at Class 5A power Harding Academy.
The Patriots came up with 46 points last week in a tight three-point victory at dramatically improved Sylvan Hills in the conference opener.
In all, Marion is averaging right at 40 points per game in 2025.
“For our offense, it's really about us, it's something our kids believe in, and we try and preach every single day,” said Mussleman. “It's about doing the little things. I've been happy with how our guys are leaning into the idea of it being about the collective unit, not just one person. Having different kids step up every week has been fun. Some weeks we have eight kids catch balls, then other weeks it may be the Rico (Ward) or J.D. (Jeremiah Dent) show. But overall, our kids are happy that everyone is helping us win.”
Defensively, Marion has allowed two offensive touchdowns or fewer three times this season, surrendering just seven points at Harding Academy, and while Class 7A juggernaut Conway downed Marion 19-0 in September, the Patriot defense only allowed one Wampus Cat touchdown when Conway infiltrated the Marion 10-yard line.
The Marion defense allows just 24 points per week so far in 2025.
“The buy-in from everybody on the defense has been terrific,” said Benton. “They all trust what we are preaching as a coaching staff, and that's how you end up with a good product on the field. Everybody trusts each other, no matter what's going on.”
Marion's talented coordinators will have their hands full on Friday night when El Dorado invades Southern Bancorp Stadium for a 7 p.m. kickoff as the teams continue 6A East action.
El Dorado leads the all-time series with Marion 7-3, but the Patriots have won three in a row, including a thrilling 34-28 conquest one year ago in Memorial Stadium.
The Wildcats (3-1, 1-0) boast a punishing rushing attack this season, with a bevy of backs getting carries, led by senior all-state tailback Jeremy Samuels.
“What we have to do this week is really be good at tackling,” said Benton. “We have to get off blocks and make tackles. We have done a good job tackling this year, but we have to be even better this week, I think.”
El Dorado is averaging more than 46 points per game over its past three games, all victories.
When Marion has the football, the Patriots will look to continue to attack with a balanced offense. The Patriots have totaled 1,420 total yards this season, 768 on the ground, and 652 in the air.
“We will never not be proud of scoring points; we need to be well-rounded,” said Mussleman. “The key for us this week, and the rest of the year, is being able to do whatever we can to win the game. If that's running it then we need that. If it's throwing, then that's what we have to do. The kids have been excellent at preparing and executing most of the time this year.”
The Wildcats have game-changing talent in the defense line (Jervalen Junior and Winston Williams), linebacker (Jakori Lumsey, Bretavion Brown, and Spencer Pool), and in the secondary (Marveious Ishmael), most of whom are three-year starters.
HOW TO WATCH
You can watch the El Dorado-Marion football game for free on Friday night on the MPAN YouTube channel. Pregame festivities will begin around 6:30 p.m. and will feature the Marion High School cheerleaders leading the Pledge of Allegiance and a pregame performance from the Marion Patriot Pride Band. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., and you can watch the band and cheer's performances at halftime.
RANKINGS RUNDOWN
Marion maintained its stranglehold on the No. 4 statewide ranking on Hootens.com again this week, which is where the Patriots opened the season in July. Marion is also ranked fourth in ScoreBookLive.com's weekly rankings, and the Pats are No. 5 in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's Class 6A SuperSix rankings and in the Arkansas Media Poll.
6A EAST SCORES FROM 9/26
Marion 46, Sylvan Hills 43
El Dorado 48, LR Catholic 31
Benton 55, Jonesboro 24
Sheridan 64, W. Memphis 20
6A EAST STANDINGS ON 9/29
SCHOOL CONF. RECORD
Marion 1-0
El Dorado 1-0
Benton 1-0
Sheridan 1-0
Jonesboro 0-1
LR Catholic 0-1
Sylvan Hills 0-1
W. Memphis 0-1
The top six teams make state playoffs.
6A EAST GAMES ON 10/3
El Dorado at Marion
Sylvan Hills at Benton
W. Memphis at LR Catholic
Jonesboro at Sheridan