MARION --Blytheville star running back Demekko Clark ran for 157 yards, and all-state safety Issac Kelly had three first-half interceptions, including a pick-6.
The Chickasaw defense forced six Marion turnovers, turning two of them into scores.
But it was the Patriots' kicker that had the last word in a back-and-forth, nail-biter.
With one second left and the game tied, Marion trotted out Denver Burton, who booted a 24-yard field goal as time expired to hand Blytheville its first loss of the season, 43-40. Marion's win avenges last year's 51-0 loss to the Chicks.
The game was Blytheville's final non-conference contest, and it provided fans with plenty of exciting moments.
Two plays into the fourth quarter, Marion scored to go up 40-33. On the previous possession, Blytheville rolled the dice on fourth-and-4 and turned it over on downs at the BHS 44.
Marion took advantage, as Marion quarterback Tyler Holmes found Collin Chambers for an 8-yard score. The two-point try was no good, keeping it 40-33, Marion.
Blytheville faced a fourth down in its own territory again on the next possession. But this time the Chicks converted as quarterback Terry Northern found D'Arik Haley for a four-yard gain on fourth-and-3 at the BHS 41.
Northern hit Haley again later in the drive -- for a 4-yard touchdown. Walt Daniels booted the PAT to tie the game at 40-all with 6:46 to play.
Blytheville's Malik Smith picked off Holmes on the ensuing drive, setting up the Chicks at the MHS 40 with just over four minutes to play.
Marion ended the drive with an interception of its own with 3:29 to play. The host Patriots moved the ball from their own 45 to the Blytheville 7, where they faced fourth-and-5. They watched the clock tick down to one second before calling timeout and sending in Burton for the game-winner.
"We had great effort all night," Blytheville head coach Ben Fisher said.
The Chickasaw defense came up big in the first half, forcing five turnovers in the first 24 minutes. The defense, which was on the field a good portion of the first half, scored twice on Marion turnovers -- a 90-yard Issac Kelly pick-6 and a 23-yard Tyree Jones scoop-and-score.
"Our defense was on the field the whole first half," Fisher said, noting in an odd way the Chicks almost scored too quickly -- on defense and offense.
Blytheville's offense got the Chicks on the scoreboard first with 5:24 left in the first quarter, when Demekko Clark punched it in on fourth-and-goal from the Marion 1.
Walt Daniels booted the extra point for a 7-0 lead.
It was the second fourth down conversion on the drive. Quarterback Terry Northern hit Tyrell King for a 13-yard screen on fourth-and-9 from the MHS 34. Clark had six carries on the drive for 37 of Blytheville's 57 yards on the series.
Marion answered with a 56-yard touchdown toss from Tyler Holmes to Landon Wolfsen at the 3:46 mark. The PAT tied the game at 7-7.
The Patriots threatened again on their next drive, but Issac Kelly picked off Holmes deep in Chickasaw territory and returned it to the BHS 32.
On Marion's next possession, the snap sailed over the punter's head and Blytheville's Timarcus Bohannon pounced on it at the MHS 1.
Northern ran it in from a yard out with 11:05 left in the second quarter to give the Chicks a 13-7 lead.
Nine seconds later, Tyree Jones had a scoop-and-score that went 23 yards and increased the lead to 20-7.
Kelly ended the next Marion drive by picking off Holmes again with 8:25 left in the second quarter.
Following a Blytheville three-and-out, Kelly picked off Holmes a third time and ran it 90 yards for the score, upping the Chickasaw advantage to 26-7.
Fisher noted after the three quick touchdowns, his defense was gassed.
Marion bounced back with a four-yard touchdown run from Young to close the gap to 26-14.
A Holmes 15-yard touchdown run with 15 seconds in the half sliced the Blytheville lead to 26-21 going into the break.
After a Blytheville three-and-out to start the second half, Marion went 48 yards in six plays. Holmes capped the drive with a 3-yard TD run at the 8:36 mark of the third, giving the Patriots their first lead, 28-26.
The lead didn't last long.
Two plays later, Clark broke a 55-yard touchdown run at the 7:54 mark, as Blytheville retook the lead, 33-28.
Marion answered with a Holmes-to-Young score on the ensuing drive, going back on top, 34-33, and setting up the dramatic fourth quarter.
Blytheville finished with 248 total yards, including 160 on the ground. Northern was 13-23 for 88 yards and two interceptions.
Marion totaled 439 yards on the evening -- 193 on the ground and 246 in the air.
Holmes was 16 of 43 passing for the 246 yards and four interceptions.
The Chicks open 5A-East play at Wynne Friday night. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
"They put in a new offense this year," Fisher said of Wynne. "They're running the triple-option similar to Georgia Tech. They're getting better and better each week. We're going to have to play assignment, sound defense."
mbrasfield@blythevillecourier.com