How clutch is Marionville quarterback Wil Carlton? Ask Central, which nearly beat the Comets

Where there’s a Wil, there’s a way.

Marionville quarterback Wil Carlton capped off a methodical, penalty-boosted drive with a five-yard touchdown run that lifted the Comets to a 18-13 win over Central on Friday at Harrison Stadium.

When Carlton plunged across the goal line with 1:37 left in the fourth quarter – a timely effort in a game otherwise dominated by defense – it was the latest example of the decorated senior’s resolve.

The Class 1 power’s offense often sputtered against an improved Class 5 Central program, but Carlton, who holds a 27-2 record as his team’s starter, was steady when it mattered.

A pair of personal fouls helped Marionville move the chains as it chipped its way up the field on its final drive. Central, clinging to a 13-12 lead, still forced a 4th-and-5 in its own territory.

Carlton peeled around the corner and out of bounds on the ensuing play, giving the Comets (4-0) a fresh set of downs in the red zone within the closing minutes.

Marionville coach Paden Grubbs breathed a sigh of relief.

“It’s nice to have an experienced quarterback that can make you look smart as a coach when plays break down,” Grubbs said. “He has been using his God-given ability to make big plays for us and he made big plays for us tonight.”

More: Southwest Missouri high school football takeaways and scores from Sept. 16

The Central High School Bulldogs vs. Marionville Comets at Harrison Stadium on Friday, September 16, 2022.

Carlton, who had more than 2,500 yards of total offense and 30 touchdowns a season ago, was quick to deflect credit.

“Our linemen, they never give up,” he said. “That group has so much heart, they work the hardest and it paid off on that last drive.”

It had an impressive opening drive of the second half, too.

Carlton and running back Hugh Eaton helped the Comets helped burn more than 7 minutes off the clock before a 21-yard touchdown pass to Gage Guerin made it a 12-6 contest.

Central (2-2), hindered by four turnovers, several drive-changing penalties and multiple dropped passes, was still able to manufacture a late lead after Tae’Sean McShane’s 38-yard run put the Bulldogs ahead.

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It didn’t last. Carlton, a 6-foot, 170-pound signal caller who helped the Comets reach the state semifinals as a sophomore and to an 11-1 mark as a junior, made sure of it.

“We knew (Carlton) was going to take it on his shoulders, which he did,” Central coach Shem Johnson said. “He’s a veteran quarterback.”

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Defensive identity

Ranked No. 4 in the latest Class 1 statewide media poll, Marionville isn’t putting up the lofty offensive numbers it did a season ago (42.5 points per game).

But the 2022 edition of the Comets are yielding just 12 points a game and have a combined 12 turnovers the past three weeks.

It’s what ultimately lifted Marionville past a Central team that boasted the type of speed and size it rarely sees in the small-school ranks.

The Central High School Bulldogs vs. Marionville Comets at Harrison Stadium on Friday, September 16, 2022.

Blaine Young had two interceptions on Friday, including a 65-yard interception return that gave the Comets a 6-0 halftime lead.

Marionville also had two fumble recoveries, including Guerin’s fumble recovery that ended the slugfest.

Dual-threat Central quarterback Antonio Starks-Fewell had the Bulldogs marching up the field in the final minute. After getting into Marionville territory, Starks-Fewell was stripped by Comets defensive back Bryer Guerin before the ball was recovered by his brother, Gage.

“We’ve been living defensively this year,” Grubbs said.  “Our guys are really corralling and getting to the ball. We’re forcing turnovers.”

Young agreed.

“We work really hard on our explosiveness, which is really showing right now,” Young said.

Central had its chances

After going winless from 2016-2020 to posting four wins a season ago, Central appears to be on an upswing.

The Bulldogs have been consistent defensively this season surrendering 13 or fewer points in three of their four games.

On Friday, Central’s offense, which totaled 457 yards, couldn’t cash in on its opportunities.

Central’s first drive resulted in an interception. Its second drive was thwarted due to a wide-open pass to a receiver on third down. Its third drive ended in a fumble on the Marionville 25.

A Central touchdown pass before the half – a crowd-pleasing one-handed grab by receiver Mecoast Vaughn – was negated due to a holding penalty.

But Starks-Fewell, who had more than 225 yards of total offense, got the offense rolling in the second half. His 32-yard touchdown pass to Drelondo Wells in the third quarter made it a 12-6 ballgame.

“You see what happens when we play the way we’re supposed to play,” said Johnson, whose defense didn’t surrender an offensive touchdown in the first half.

McShane had 127 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.

Class clash

Central has more than five times the enrollment as Marionville, but that hasn’t mattered.

One of the best small-school programs in Southwest Missouri, Marionville handed Central a 48-0 loss last season.

The Central High School Bulldogs vs. Marionville Comets at Harrison Stadium on Friday, September 16, 2022.

It appeared to mean a little more on Friday.

When the Comets edged the Bulldogs on Friday, they believed they had just beaten a substantially better team.

At many positions, Central looked the part of a Class 5 team climbing toward relevance.

Marionville may not see that much team speed until the postseason, according to its players.

“They’re a good team, and it’s going to make us better playing against good competition,” Carlton said of Central.

Johnson praised the Comets.

“They play smash-mouth football,” Johnson said. “You give them another 20 or 30 players on that squad where they can rotate, I’m matching them up with anybody. Anyone from the outside looking in (at Class 5 vs. Class 1), they don’t get it.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Marionville quarterback Wil Carlton steady in win over Central