Jordan Landry had two first-half rushing touchdowns totaling over 100 yards, and Tucker sustained its final drive for over nine minutes to hold on to a four-point victory.
Tucker took the lead for good on the first possession of the game when Landry broke free for a 35-yard touchdown run. Juwaan Williams ran in the quarterback keeper for the two-point conversion to make it 8-0.
Landry struck again for 77 yards in the second quarter. The Steven Duffy extra point stretched Tucker’s lead to 15-3.
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Marist pulled to within four near the end of the first half when Gray King took an option pitch from QB Myles Willis 15 yards for the score. Marist lined up for the extra point but took a quick snap and threw for two points, making the score 15-11.
Tucker came out firing in the second half but was unable to capitalize. A 58-yard scoring run by Rondell Simmons was called back because of a Tucker penalty, and another sure touchdown was lost on the next play when Yusuf Minor was unable to handle a long pass from Williams.
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A battle of field position ensued for most of the second half, and neither defense looked to be in any real danger of giving up more points.
Tucker may have gotten away with pass interference on a long incomplete pass intended for King at the beginning of the fourth quarter, and Marist was unable to threaten again.
Tucker ran out the last nine minutes of clock with a series of short rushes in the box, culminating in a Brendon Hooker one-yard run to convert on fourth down with 1:12 remaining in the game. With no timeouts remaining, Marist was unable to stop the clock as Tucker took a knee for the win.
Marist kicker/punter Austin Hardin, who has committed to Florida, helped keep the game close through field position, drawing “oohs” and “ahhs” from a Tucker crowd unaccustomed to seeing his booming, hanging punts and kickoffs into the end zone. Hardin also put Marist’s first points on the board with a 32-yard field goal late in the first quarter.
Marist running back Jason Morris took the majority of the pounding for the War Eagles’ offense, getting the call on most of the runs up the middle and being met at the line of scrimmage with a big hit most of the time.
Scoring Summary
Team
Qtr.
Time
Description
Score
Tucker
1
6:50
TD Landry rush 35yds (2pts Williams rush)
THS 8 – 0 Marist
Marist
1
1:22
FG Hardin 32yds
THS 8 – 3 Marist
Tucker
2
TD Landry rush 77yds (PAT good Duffy)
THS 15 – 3 Marist
Marist
2
1:52
TD King rush 15yds (2pts)
THS 15 – 11 Marist
FINAL
THS 15 – 11 Marist
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