Marion first-year head football coach Claude Johnson has had a hand in uber-productive offenses during his career in stops at El Dorado, White Hall, and most recently Little Rock Parkview, the latter of which won three straight Class 5A state titles from 2022 to 2024.
In Johnson's estimation, there was one common denominator at each stop.
“It all starts up front on the good teams,” said Johnson. “When you're good on the offensive line, it makes everything else easier. This year, our offensive line could be the strength of our team. We have six guys who we think can start, and we have 10 guys who we think can play.”
Marion (7-5 in 2025) returns a pair of likely three-year starters, Jarrett Selvy and Walt Tucker, Jr., in the offensive line this fall, while senior Draylon Thompson emerged up front in the spring and carried his strong play into fall camp. Junior center Sam Gibbs proved steady every day to earn a spot, while sophomore right tackle Nick Beale has the ability and measurables to “play anywhere he wants to in the country,” said Johnson. “This group has stuck together and has built some continuity that I think can win games down the stretch.”
Those five will be Marion's starting offensive line Friday night when the Patriots welcome 6A West power Mountain Home to Southern Bancorp Stadium for each team's annual benefit scrimmage game. The Mountain Home contest is scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff, and you can watch for free on the MPAN YouTube channel if you can not attend.
Selvy and Tucker cracked the starting lineup as sophomores, and the two have combined to start almost 30 games in 2024 and 2025 for teams that won a combined 14 games, and each rushed for more than 300 yards per game in those years.
Selvy spent most of his junior season at tackle before settling this season at right guard, while Tucker shifts from guard to tackle.
“Selvy is a good athlete; he's smart, he knows all of his assignments, we can count on him,” said Johnson. “Walt can be our catalyst up front. We expect to be able to run the ball to his side. We feel great about him in pass protection. He's just been a great leader from the moment our staff got here and got going.”
Gibbs shifted in the spring to center from guard and “he gives you his all on every play,” said Johnson. “He's passionate and driven.”
Senior left guard Draylon Thompson earned a spot up front with a strong spring and summer performance and “he has the makeup that you like up front,” said Johnson. “He's strong, he's got the build. When he gets consistent, he's going to be something else in there.”
Beale stood out for the junior high the past two years and earned a scholarship offer from Tennessee-Martin in the spring. The likely right tackle is “just now scratching the surface of what type of player he can be,” said Johnson. “He's come a long way in a hurry, and if he stays on that track, he will be a special player.”
As excited as Johnson is about the first five that will step onto the field Friday night, he may be more excited about the depth of the 2026 Pats, as juniors Raegan Burnett, Bryan Miller, Rickey Vega and sophomore Juan Amaya all worked with the first-team offense at times this summer.
“We know that you need eight to 10 guys up front to get through the year,” said Johnson. “Sometimes you can get by with fewer, but those guys are all starting-caliber dudes, and probably will start at times this year, and we feel great about that. The competition has been tremendous.”
Marion will have its hands full with a Mountain Home (9-3 in 2025) defensive line featuring senior all-conference end Ford Coleman and senior Nazsier Johnson.
“Mountain Home will be one of the bigger defensive fronts we will see all year,” said Johnson. “They're strong, and they're really quick. They just do stuff the right way.”
The Bombers return just six starters to open 2026, and Mountain Home will continue to evaluate three quarterbacks, senior Gaige Wilson, junior Kobe Dotson, and sophomore Conner Gentry.
A host of running backs handled carries in the summer and so far in the fall, as well.
“They've been good lately at running the ball, being physical and controlling the clock,” said Johnson. “If we are going to have a chance, we have to control the line of scrimmage, at least win more in there than they do, and make few mistakes. It will be a good test for us against one of the top schools in our classification.”
Friday night's benefit scrimmage will feature 12-minute quarters in the first half with the natural clock stoppages. The third quarter will feature a 10-minute clock with natural stoppages, and the fourth quarter will have a 10-minute running clock.
Marion's official 2026 season opener will be Friday, August 28 at Wynne.
VPA LEADS THE PLEDGE
Marion Visual and Performing Arts Magnet School will lead the pledge prior to kickoff Friday night against Mountain Home.
MHS CHEER AT HALFTIME
Marion High School's cheer team will perform at halftime of Friday night's event.