Marlette Pulls out Close Win

It was the only touchdown scored in the second half, and it was the biggest TD of the evening. Marlette, after falling behind early to the Reese Rockets, scored what proved to be the game winning score with just over six minutes remaining to pull out a dramatic 27-26 win. It marked the second consecutive week they won by one point, following a one point thriller over Bad Axe in Week Two.
Reese, fresh off a thumping by Sandusky a week earlier, wasted little time in taking the early lead, scoring two touchdowns in the first quarter, both on pass plays. Reese made it a 20-0 lead at the 11:52 mark of the second quarter on a 20-yard scoring run. Marlette finally got on the board when quarterback Ethan McKenney tossed a 37 yard scoring strike to Tyler Ladd for six points and Jarod Lentz booted the extra point try.
Hunter McGinis scored Marlette’s second score of the game, scampering 11 yards to the endzone but the PAT kick failed, leaving Reese on top 20-13 midway through the second quarter. Ethan Stover broke free and galloped 47 yards for a Red Raider score with a little more than two minutes to go before the half only to see Reese respond with another score on a pass play to hold a 26-21 lead at the half.
After a scoreless third quarter, the Red Raiders mounted their game-winning scoring drive with six minutes remaining. The drive was capped off by McKenney who punched it in from two yards out to make it 27-26. The Marlette PAT try once again failed. The Rockets were unable to move the ball in their final drive, sealing the win for Marlette.
The Red Raiders finished the game with 371 yards of total offense, 226 of those coming on the ground. McKenney finished the night completing six of 13 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown while Stover led the Red Raiders’ ground game rushing for 103 yards on 18 carries. McKenney added 92 yards on 13 tries. Ladd had 48 yards on a pair of catches and Aaron Leffler hauled in three passes covering 47 yards. McGinnis grabbed a 29 yard pass and Zac Chappel snared a 21 yard toss from McKenney.
Defensively, Marlette was led by Brett Knox with seven solo tackles and two assists, Aaron Choike had five solos and assisted on three others while Chorben Chisholm had four solo tackles and assisted on five others.