By Pat Dailey (For OzarkSportsZone.com)
MARIONVILLE — Isaac Russell and Cash Pomeroy continue to flourish from having each other as weightlifting partners.
Russell recorded a pair of quarterback sacks and Pomeroy posted three tackles for a loss Saturday as they powered Marionville to a 34-14 triumph against Forsyth.
Last spring, Russell and Pomeroy both captured state powerlifting championships, with Russell taking the 165-pound weight class title and Pomeroy winning the 250 class.
“Freshman year, I got my (weightlifting) class transferred to Cash’s class and I went from squatting 300 pounds to squatting 500 by the end of my freshman year,” Russell said. “We love lifting together and pushing each other.”
Now, Russell’s maxes include a 320-pound bench press, a 460 deadlift and a 585 squat, while Pomeroy’s maxes are a 405 bench press, a 620 deadlift and a 635 squat.
“I love going in the weight room, knowing it’s up to me if I want to get better that day,” Russell said. “It gives me a better mindset and I’m getting bigger and stronger for hitting people.”
Russell is responding as well to his move from linebacker to nose guard this year as everyone at Marionville could have hoped.
“I like it a lot more than linebacker. I get to hit someone every play,” Russell said. “It was good beating people off the ball tonight and doing what I’m coached to do, while giving my max effort. I’m pretty much trying to run through someone’s face every play.”
Russell fits the profile of a nose guard at 5-foot-6 and 190 pounds.
“We’ll say 5-6 to make him feel good,” Comets coach Paden Grubbs said. “He’s fun to watch. With his stature and strength and ‘want-to,’ we moved him to the defensive line. He’s embraced it and taken it upon himself to set the tone for the rest of the defensive line. He had a good night tonight. I was glad to see him get after the quarterback.”
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Marionville’s defense repeatedly gained penetration and chased Forsyth makeshift quarterback TaMarkus Holmes, who had 1,339 yards rushing at running back last year, out of the pocket. More Comets greeted him on the edges.
Over a 20-minute stretch covering the final minutes of the second quarter to all of the third quarter and the beginning of the fourth quarter, Marionville held Forsyth to one first down. Meanwhile, the Comets upped their lead from 14-8 to 34-8.
Marionville prepared all week for Holmes to be at running back and Chris Halbrook at quarterback. But Halbrook wasn’t in uniform Saturday.
“We adapted,” defensive back Bryer Guerin said. “We had to switch up a little bit, but pretty much the game plan stayed the same, contain (Holmes) and don’t let him beat us over the top with the pass. We contained him pretty well. There were a few plays we let up, but altogether we did alright.”
“That was a little bit of a change-up,” Grubbs said of the Panthers’ change at QB. “Our kids adjusted well. With (Holmes) playing quarterback, all our attention was on him to try to limit his ability to get in space. We were physical with him, getting two to three kids to him.”
With Marionville leading 14-8 and three-plus minutes remaining in the second quarter, the Comets stopped Holmes for a loss on fourth-and-one at Marionville’s 35-yard line. Pomeroy made a jarring tackle, with the impact of the players’ shoulder pads being heard throughout the field and stands.
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“Our coach in the (press) box said he heard it up there. That’s how physical Cash is,” Guerin said.
“I feel like that was a tone-setter for the rest of the game,” Grubbs said. “It was a really big hit by Cash. to get that stop gave us momentum. We got on the offensive side and scored to make it a two-score game.”
On the first play following Pomeroy’s stop, Guerin broke loose for a 50-yard run to set up one of his three touchdown runs on the night. Pomeroy added two touchdown runs.
Marionville improved to 2-0 on its new home turf.
“Last week, I (slipped) a couple times,” Grubbs said of playing on the turf. “We’re all getting used to it. Tonight, my footing was a lot better.”
“I love the turf,” Russell said. “Sometimes, it’s a little slick. But with us practicing on it every day, we’re getting acclimated to it.”
Marionville’s makeover also includes a new video scoreboard.
“There’s not a better Class 1 facility around. I’m super proud for our community,” Grubbs said. “The location of our field is really important to me. When there was talk about putting in turf, I was asked about moving the field out to the high school. I’ve always been a believer about having a town atmosphere and the town surrounding the field. We’ve got kids in the community who can walk to the game. You wouldn’t have that out at the high school. For the field to stay here was very important to me. I was glad we were able to get it done.”
Marionville 34, Forsyth 14
Forsyth 0 8 0 6 – 14
Marionville 14 14 0 6 – 34
Scoring
M – Pomeroy 2 run (kick good)
M – Pomeroy 1 run (kick good)
F – Hutchins 6 pass from Holmes (Holmes run)
M – Guerin 6 run (Smith pass from Guerin)
M – Guerin 2 run (kick good)
M – Guerin 38 run (kick no good)
F – Deroo 33 run (pass failed)
