By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Carlisle Bison ran into very little resistance against their open range companions on Friday, easily cruising through the Marvell Mustangs 55-8 at Fred C. Hardke Stadium. The game was over quickly. Carlisle led 39-0 with 1:31 left in the first quarter, and the starters sat the rest of the game.
We came out in the first quarter wanting to execute and look sharp,” Carlisle coach Scott Waymire said. “We wanted to get our starters out as quick as possible and we did that, so I’m pleased with that. I’m really pleased with the way the kids played. Our first, second and third guys all did a good job.”
Marvell got the ball first and went three plays to its only real playmaker, quarterback Octavius Holiday. Holiday was only able to gain six yards and the Mustangs punted.
By the time Marvell ran two more plays, it trailed 24-0.
Carlisle went 37 yards in four plays on its first drive. It was Braxton Petrus for 11 yards, Ty Vaughn for four, Deron Ricks went 14 and Vaughn finished it off with the last eight and the score. The Bison got an accidental onside kick recovery when Marvell failed to fall on a shanked kickoff. On the second play of that drive, Petrus went 38 yards for the score. The Mustangs first pass attempt fell into the hands of Carlisle’s Austin Reed, giving the Bison the ball on their own 38. From there it took just two plays. Sophomore Bo Weddle went 33 yards to the Marvell 29. Ricks got the rest with 6:24 left in the opening quarter.
Marvell went for it on fourth down on its next drive and failed. That gave Carlisle the ball at its own 40. Petrus got 30 on the first play of the drive. Hart hit Vaughn on a swing pass for the final 10 with 4:02 left in the first quarter. After another four-and-out by Marvell, the Bison took over at the Mustang 30. After one incomplete pass, Hart found sophomore receiver Justice Bryant in the flat. Bryant broke three tackles and plowed into the end zone with 1:31 left in the first.
The Bison offensive backups took over on the Marvell 42 and drove that distance in seven plays. Reed got the final four yards with 3:11 left in the half. Ricks’ extra point made it 46-0.
The Bison second string had trouble with a couple of snaps, but still drove 37 yards in nine plays for another score. This time it was a 27-yard field goal by Ricks that made it 49-0 with four minutes left in the third quarter. Marvell got another first down on its next drive, but on fourth and six, a high snap went backwards 18 yards, setting the Bison up at the Mustang 19.
After an initial false start penalty, Carlisle needed three plays to go 24 yards with senior Ryleigh Cunningham plunging it in from two yards out, making it 55-0 with 5:38 left in the game.
Marvell finally got on the board when Holiday broke loose on the first play of the next drive and ran 66 yards for a touchdown.
Carlisle compiled 331 total yards to 105 for Marvell. Carlisle improved to 4-0, and host Clarendon next Friday.
