Marked Tree clinches playoff berth with win over Cross Co.

Marked Tree (7-1, 5-1) clinched a spot in the Class 2A state playoffs with a 22-16 win over Cross County (4-4, 3-3) in a big 2A-2 game Friday at Don Lovell Memorial Field in Marked Tree. The win sets up another huge game with rival EPC this Thursday at Warrior Field in Lepanto, The winner will have the number one seed in the conference and will have home field throughout the playoffs until the finals.

The Indians got the ball first to start the game at their own 35-yard line after the kick-off went out of bounds. T.J. Hodges galloped 22 yards on the first play to move the ball to the Cross Country 43-yard line. Marked Tree converted a fourth and three with 5:33 left and went on to find end zone on a Ken Carter to Cam Marshall pass to make it 6-0 with 23 seconds left. Carter found Tate Swink with the two-point pass making it 8-0 Indians. The Thunderbirds ran one play before the first quarter ended.

Cross County continued their drive from the opening quarter finding the end zone on a 55-yard run to make it 8-6 Indians with 11:14 left. The two-point try was good tying the game at 8-8. Cross County recovered the ensuing onside kick after a Marked Tree player touched the ball at the 39-yard line. The T-birds drove the ball to the Indians' one-yard line before fumbling with Marshall recovering the ball at his own five-yard line with 5:04 left. Cross County reclaimed the lead three minutes later after intercepting a Carter pass and returning it for a touchdown to make the score 14-8 T-birds with 2:03 left. The two-point play was good to make the score 16-8.

The Indians looked like they would get on the board again after a 67 yard pass from Carter to Marshall moved the ball to Cross County eight-yard line with 1:34 left. However, Carter was sacked on fourth down turning the ball over on downs at the Thunderbirds' 12 yard line with 25 seconds left. Cross County took a knee to end the first half leading 16-8.

Cross County took the second half kick-off and moved the ball to the Marked Tree 35 yard with their ground game, only to cough the ball up with Timothy Risper recovering the ball for the Indians at their own 31 yard line with 2:49 left. The Indians capitalized on the turnover as Carter found J.J. Risper with a 36-yard touchdown pass to make it 16-14. The two-point try was no good. After a penalty negated a Cross County touchdown, DeQuincey Wilkins and Jayvion Tribble sacked the T-birds quarterback to force them to punt with 47 seconds left in the quarter.

Marked Tree started the fourth quarter facing second and five from their own 48 yard line and drove the ball to the Cross County nine yard line before Hodges scored on a nine-yard run to make it 20-16 Marked Tree. Carter added the two-point run to make it 22-16 Indians with 9:16 left to play.

Marked Tree's defense came up big stopping the T-birds on fourth and five with 4:26 left. Cross County would force the Indians to punt on their possession with Tate's punt being downed at the Marked Tree 24 yard line with 1:51 remaining. The Indians' defense stopped Cross County on fourth down forcing a turn over on downs with seven seconds left. Marked Tree took a knee to seal the victory.

“It's our kids and it has been all year. They stepped up on defense tonight only giving up one defensive score. “Our kids just competed. When adversity hits us and we can fold, our kids will not fold,” Marked Tree head coach Waylon Dunn said after the game. “Cross County has a good team, they are big, like playing a 5A school. We didn't lose the line of scrimmage tonight. It was tough to run but we did run a little. We gotta cut out mistakes,” Dunn added. Dunn spoke about next weeks game, “It is what it is, another Marked Tree-EPC rival game next week. We are glad we are in playoffs, now lets go win a conference championship and get some home playoff games. We know what we are playing, they are undefeated in the conference and have a good team, good running back and a good quarterback. They are solid. We'll look at film and see what we have for next week. I just want my kids to compete and they did that tonight,” Dunn said.

Carter led the Marked Tree offense completing 14 of 28 passes for 240 yards, two touchdown passes and an interception. J.J. Risper had five catches for 72 yards and touchdown. Marshall had three catches for 80 yards and a touchdown. Hodges finished with 16 carries for 103 yards and a score. Timothy Risper and Marshall both had a fumble recovery for the defense.