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Southeast of Saline turned two Marion turnovers into a 16-point first quarter lead and never looked back, rolling over the Warriors 48-6.
The Warriors started with good field position and moved for a first down on the Southeast 49.
Quarterback Jack Scheneider dropped back to pass, and under pressure tossed a wobbly pass that Southeast’s Damon Douglas picked off at the Trojans 35 and returned 65-yards for a touchdown. A 2-point conversion gave Southeast an 8-0 lead with 9 minutes, 54 seconds left in the first quarter.
The Warriors started their next possession on their own 20, but turned the ball over on a first-down fumble recovered by Southeast at the 13.
Four plays later, Ben Murray crossed the goal line, and another 2-point conversion gave the Trojans a 16-0 lead less than four minutes into the game.
“That’s probably the worst way a game can start for a team,” coach Grant Thierolf said. “To be honest with you, I don’t know how you prepare for a pick-6 right off the bat.”
Murray picked up two more first-quarter touchdowns on a 4-yard run and a 45-yard pass, and the Trojans led 32-0 at the end of the period.
Marion looked to swing momentum its direction after a fourth-down stop at the Marion 38, but two plays later gave the ball back on another fumble.
Aided by a 15-yard pass interference call against Southeast, the Warriors put together an 11-play drive on their first possession of the second half. Aaron Riggs toted the ball for Marion’s only score, a drive-capping fourth-down 3-yard touchdown.
“Every once in a while you’re going to have one of those games where everything goes wrong, and tonight was one of those nights,” Thierolf said.
The Trojans effectively shut down Schneider, who gained just 17 yards on 11 rushes. Riggs led the Warriors with 61 yards and Wheeler gained 40.
Scheneider completed 5-of-10 for 52 yards, with 1 interception. Brice Shults caught 2 passes for 33 yards, and Mason Pederson pulled down 3 for 19 yards.
Marion is 6-1 on the season and 0-1 in district play. The Warriors will host Hillsboro on Friday.