Marion’s Clark believes Patriots are primed to be among Class 6A’s best gridiron squads
BY DUDLEY E. DAWSON
Marion’s football program has been on a steady ascent the last three seasons and may be ready to make its big breakthrough in 2024.
Patriots head coach Lance Clark enters his fourth year as head coach with a team that returns 7 offensive starters and four defensive ones from a 8-3 squad a season ago.
That group had six mercy-rule victories en route to a bye in the opening round of the Class 6A state playoffs before falling 27-26 to Pulaski Academy.
“I’m excited every year, but I am really excited this year because I think we have a lot of special things going on - offense, defense and special teams,” Clark said at the Big Miller Media Days in Little Rock.
“We are a holistic team. We believe in getting it out of the mud. We in the Delta and we don’t expect things to be handed to us. We wart to go earned it every day. That’s the mindset that we go attack with.
“The kids know that you have to embrace the hard work and embrace the chaos because that is what champions do.
“Because if we are not teaching our kids to try and succeed and go for it every day then what are we teaching them about life means. Our job and our kids’ job its to go out and win every day and that is what these guys do.”
Marion’s offense is headed up by LSU offensive line commit Carrius Cune (6-5, 330), who initially committed to Arkansas, and tailback Jalen Smith, who rushed for over 1,500 yards last season.
Marion will face against a tough 6A-East conference slate that includes Benton, Jonesboro, El Dorado, Little Rock Catholic, West Memphis and Sheridan under new head coach Kevin Kelley.
“The 6A-East is deep,” Clark said. “It’s eight teams and you have to show up every week.”
Kelly had a storied career at Pulaski Academy and has returned to high school coaching after coaching a year in college, consulting with the NFL’s New England Patriots and pursuing some business ventures.
“Everybody says ‘look it’s Sheridan, how long will it take Coach Kelly?’” Clark said. “All I know is I spent my first three years in this state at Little Rock Christian and I had to see that guy six times and all he has ever done is go to state championships and win them since I have been here. He’s a talented coach.
“Sheridan has a great baseball program, a great track program and there is no reason their football program won’t be far behind.”
Marion has a scrimmage at Valley View on Aug. 23 before opening the regular season at Wynne on Thursday Aug. 29.
The Patriots then host defending champ Harding Academy the following week and travel to Conway before having a bye and jumping into conference play
“…We respect every team on our schedule and then the dumb head coach went and scheduled Harding Academy and Conway.
“But we want to be tested, we want to be exposed. We think we are ready for that step. I don’t know if we were three years ago when I first got there, but we think we are ready to see where we are.
“Because our goal is not to win the rivalry game, have a nice seven-win season. We have done that, been there and are ready to take the next step and we are trying to leave a legacy for the people behind us.”
Photo by John D. James
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