Marion head football coach Claude Johnson remembers the exact moment when he thought his first group of seniors was going to be memorable.
“We were out there competing, and guys were working hard,” said Johnson. “They all knew each other and were comfortable with each other. Then, over time, they’ve been resilient time after time. They’ve bought into what we’re selling. It’s been a tremendous group.”
Johnson’s first group of football seniors will play their final game on Friday night, when the Patriots host Benton at 7 p.m.
“Regardless of what the scoreboard ever said, our guys come in with the same mentality,” said Johnson. “They always wanted to get better; they looked to compete. They never really made excuses, and that’ll take them far in life.”
The Class of 2026 is Marion’s smallest group of football-playing seniors since 2022, with 24 players graduating in May, and at least four of them playing varsity football for the first time.
Included in that group are three-year starters like offensive lineman Walt Tucker, Jr., utility defensive back Colton Kimbel, defensive lineman Gary Wilson, playmaker Kam Riley, and one of the bigger recruits in program history, Jeremiah Dent.
“We had guys who were injured, and whether they played hurt or couldn’t go, they still supported their teammates and coaches,” said Johnson. “Guys have been so selfless and continued to show up to work all the time. You don’t see that all the time.”
Senior Night festivities will begin at 6:30 p.m., with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.
If you can not attend the Benton football game on Friday, you can watch for free on the Marion Patriots Activities Network.
The Benton Panthers could still earn a share of the 6A East conference title with a victory this week and a Sheridan loss at El Dorado, but Benton will be the No. 2 playoff seed from the league no matter what happens after losing the head-to-head tiebreaker against Sheridan.
Benton enters play at 6-3 overall and 5-1 in the 6A East, and the Panthers average 43.3 points per game, while allowing almost 38 points per game.
“They’ve always been a team that can move the ball in the air or on the ground,” said Johnson. “Defensively, they’re tough because they have big kids who play hard. They always seem to be great on special teams. It’s one of the top programs in the state, and it’ll be a tough test for us, but we are excited to compete.”