Stephens’ six touchdowns power Sheridan past Marion

Sheridan 66, Marion 38

MARION — Zay Stephens scored six touchdowns as Sheridan broke open a back-and-forth game with a 31-point third quarter and defeated Marion 66-38 Friday night at Patriot Stadium.

The Yellowjackets improved to 8-0 after leading only 29-21 at halftime. Stephens supplied Sheridan’s first six touchdowns, while Easton Barksdale finished the scoring with touchdown passes to Hunter Socia, Wylie DePriest and Walker Shields. The Yellowjacket Network’s late sideline report credited Stephens with more than 200 rushing yards; an official final rushing total was not provided.

Marion struck first after Lekedrick Herring intercepted Barksdale. Benjamin Bateman found Drace McGee for a 15-yard touchdown with 5:30 left in the first quarter. Sheridan answered with Stephens’ 3-yard scoring run and Cam Martin’s extra point for a 7-6 lead with 1:15 remaining.

Bateman’s 21-yard touchdown pass to Jaylon Ford put Marion back ahead 13-7 early in the second quarter. Stephens answered with a long scoring run, but the missed kick kept the game tied at 13.

Mason Morris then intercepted Bateman, giving Sheridan another possession. Stephens scored again and added the two-point conversion for a 21-13 advantage with 4:34 left in the half. McGee immediately returned Sheridan’s onside kick for a touchdown, and Bateman’s conversion pass to Ford tied it at 21.

Stephens’ fourth touchdown, a 3-yard run with 1:05 remaining, and his conversion run restored Sheridan’s eight-point lead. Shields intercepted a pass near the end of the half to protect that margin.

Stephens scored his fifth touchdown on Sheridan’s opening possession of the third quarter, and Barksdale’s conversion pass to Socia made it 37-21. Jayden Douglas answered with a short touchdown run for Marion, followed by McGee’s conversion run to trim the deficit to eight.

Sheridan then took control. Stephens broke loose on fourth-and-one for his sixth touchdown and ran in the conversion. The Yellowjackets recovered the ensuing onside kick, and Barksdale followed with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Socia. DePriest’s touchdown catch at the back of the end zone and a successful conversion run extended the margin to 60-29 with 1:05 left in the third quarter.

Rashod Litzsey broke up a pass in the end zone and intercepted Bateman on the next play in the fourth quarter. Marion subsequently scored a safety, but Socia intercepted a deflected pass on the Patriots’ next possession. Barksdale’s touchdown pass to Shields made it 66-31 with 7:35 remaining. Jaden Coleman closed the scoring with a Marion touchdown run with 3:59 left.

Scoring summary

First quarter

5:30 — Marion — Drace McGee 15-yard pass from Benjamin Bateman (kick failed). Marion 6-0.

1:15 — Sheridan — Zay Stephens 3-yard run (Cam Martin kick). Sheridan 7-6.

Second quarter

10:15 — Marion — Jaylon Ford 21-yard pass from Bateman (kick good). Marion 13-7.

8:34 — Sheridan — Stephens touchdown run (kick failed). Tied 13-13.

4:34 — Sheridan — Stephens touchdown (Stephens run). Sheridan 21-13.

Marion — McGee kickoff-return touchdown (Ford pass from Bateman). Tied 21-21.

1:05 — Sheridan — Stephens 3-yard run (Stephens run). Sheridan 29-21.

Third quarter

10:01 — Sheridan — Stephens touchdown run (Hunter Socia pass from Easton Barksdale). Sheridan 37-21.

Marion — Jayden Douglas touchdown run (McGee run). Sheridan 37-29.

Sheridan — Stephens touchdown run (Stephens run). Sheridan 45-29.

4:35 — Sheridan — Socia 6-yard pass from Barksdale (Enzo Miranda kick). Sheridan 52-29.

1:05 — Sheridan — Wylie DePriest touchdown pass from Barksdale (run good). Sheridan 60-29.

Fourth quarter

7:35 — Sheridan — Walker Shields touchdown pass from Barksdale (run failed). Sheridan 66-31.

3:59 — Marion — Jaden Coleman touchdown run (conversion details unverified). Sheridan 66-38.

Players who stood out

Zay Stephens, Sheridan — Six touchdowns and three two-point conversion runs; more than 200 rushing yards reported by the school broadcast’s sideline crew.

Easton Barksdale, Sheridan — Three verified touchdown passes, to Hunter Socia, Wylie DePriest and Walker Shields; a two-point pass to Socia.

Hunter Socia, Sheridan — A 6-yard touchdown reception, a two-point catch and a fourth-quarter interception of a deflected pass.

Walker Shields, Sheridan — A touchdown reception and an interception late in the first half.

Wylie DePriest, Sheridan — A third-quarter touchdown catch at the back of the end zone.

Mason Morris, Sheridan — A second-quarter interception and a third-quarter pass breakup.

Rashod Litzsey, Sheridan — An end-zone pass breakup followed by an interception on consecutive fourth-quarter plays.

Drace McGee, Marion — A 15-yard touchdown reception, a kickoff-return touchdown and a two-point conversion run.

Benjamin Bateman, Marion — Touchdown passes to McGee and Jaylon Ford; a two-point pass to Ford.

Jaylon Ford, Marion — A 21-yard touchdown reception and a two-point conversion catch.

Jayden Douglas and Jaden Coleman, Marion — One touchdown run apiece.

Lekedrick Herring, Marion — A first-quarter interception that preceded Marion’s opening touchdown drive.