There was a question as to how productive the Marion football team was going to be after the season-ending injury to all-conference tailback and University of Arkansas commit Jeremiah Dent.
After all, Dent was responsible for more than 100 total yards per game as a junior, representing Marion’s most productive leading offensive skill player coming into 2026.
But Marion has had other players step up in Dent’s absence, averaging more than 300 yards per game so far this fall thanks to a slew of surprise contributors.
“We have had some guys really step up and give us a major lift,” said first-year Marion coach Claude Johnson. “We were behind the eight ball getting here as late as we did in the spring and hiring a staff, but guys have worked hard, bought in, and they’re giving us a chance to continue to move the ball in these games.”
Senior quarterback Ben Bateman had not played football in several years, but joined following the conclusion of the 2026 baseball season.
All he’s done in four games since is pass for 729 yards and seven touchdowns with four interceptions, three of which came late in games with Marion trying to get into position to score.
“Ben is just a gamer,” said Johnson, who was a standout quarterback at Pine Bluff. “He’s a competitive kid, and he works hard, but he just knows how to play. He’s made some plays that you wouldn’t expect from a guy who hasn’t played that much football.”
Senior Kam Riley entered 2026 as Marion’s leading returning receiver, and while he’s still been productive catching the ball, he’s been the Pats’ primary running back in the absence of Dent, and all he’s done there is rush twice for 100 yards, including a breathtaking 296-yard all-purpose performance at Lake Hamilton.
“Kam has proven himself as one of the better players in the state,” said Johnson. “His versatility, his attitude, his leadership. He has all the intangible things that you love as a coach. He does whatever he can to help us win.”
Riley’s shift to the backfield has opened up opportunities out wide for receivers Chase Davis and Jaylon Ford, who have delivered big plays regularly.
Davis has been in the program since seventh grade, while Ford had not played organized football in a few years, but has stood out for Marion basketball teams that have won a combined 56 games the past two seasons, with a pair of 5A East titles, two semifinal appearances, and a state runner-up finish last spring.
“Chase is really explosive with the ball in his hands; he knows how to get open and make plays,” said Johnson. “JFord is a guy who’s a big receiver; he can run, he can catch, he can jump. Chase and JFord have made the most of their opportunities this year, and it’s helped us a lot, and it’s been great to see them have success.”
Senior Kendrick Walker has a reception in every game and “does everything right,” said Johnson. “He’s an eager blocker, we like him with the ball, he’s a great teammate. He does a bunch of stuff you may not see, but is so important to us.”
Marion’s offensive skill players will need to be at their best on Friday night when the Patriots travel south to Union County to do battle with the El Dorado Wildcats inside Memorial Stadium at 7 p.m.
El Dorado leads the all-time series with Marion 8-3, but the Pats had won three in a row prior to the Wildcats’ 28-21 victory last year at Marion.
The last home team to win in this series was Marion’s 27-23 conquest in 2022.
“That group is going to be one of the more physical, athletic teams that we will see this year in our league,” said Johnson. “They’re going to play a physical style of ball that we will have to match if we want to have a chance to win.”
El Dorado tailback Trayden Cook-King has rushed for 100 yards or more in three of the Wildcats’ four games this fall, while a pair of El Dorado receivers (Christian Williams and Justin Hammett) have each caught more than 20 passes so far.
“Our chances to win this week will ultimately be decided on how we prepare in meetings and in practice,” said Johnson. “We have to win the day and keep preparing relentlessly, and if we do that then the game will take care of itself. The team that is better prepared and makes the fewest mistakes almost always wins.”
HOW TO WATCH
If you can not attend Marion’s game Friday night at El Dorado, you can watch for free on the Marion Patriots Activities Network YouTube channel. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.