The Marist War Eagles didn’t get off to the best start this season. But the end result couldn’t have worked out any better, as they can call themselves Region 6-AAAA champions for the second year in a row, defeating the Carver-Atlanta Panthers 34-14 in front of the home crowd Friday night.
The War Eagles (8-2, 6-0 in 6-AAAA) claim the No. 1 seed and will host the No. 4 seed from Region 8, while the No. 2-seeded Panthers (7-3, 5-1) host Region 8’s No. 3 seed.
Marist used its run game to chip away at the Panthers defense, with five rushers combining for 288 yards.
Quarterback Chase Martenson had 18 carries for 110 yards and a touchdown, and Griffin King finished with 55 yards on 15 rushes and two scores.
King’s first-quarter touchdown, followed by Martenson’s second-quarter score — both 1-yard runs — put Marist ahead 14-0. Carver-Atlanta responded with Charlie Patrick’s 1-yard run with 46 seconds left in the half, but Marist’s Joey Gogel kicked a 49-yard field goal as time expired, sending the War Eagles into the locker room with a 17-7 lead.
Nothing seemed to go right for the Panthers. They were limited in the passing game, having completed only 6 of 14 passes for 56 yards through three quarters, when the game was out of hand.
An interception on the Panthers’ opening possession of the second half led to another Gogel field goal and a 20-7 Marist lead.
Penalties stalled three promising drives that had the Panthers either in or near the red zone. And the kicking game led to good field position for Marist.
Carver-Atlanta’s punts averaged only 13 yards, and the kickoff following the Panthers’ first touchdown went 24 yards, making Gogel’s long field goal possible.
With the game out of reach, Martenson and King rushed for short touchdowns of 2 and 5 yards, respectively, in the fourth quarter.
For Marist, it’s the school’s 22nd region championship.
After overcoming a 1-2 start, the War Eagles are in the state playoffs for the 31st consecutive season — 29 under coach Alan Chadwick.
During the kickoff following Martenson’s score in the fourth quarter, junior receiver Akinwale Brown suffered what coaches said was a neck injury. He left the field in an ambulance.
