Lorenzo Smothers scores three TDS as Marion County rolls

You know you have a special player when everyone in the stands anticipates a touchdown on his every touch. But when the big plays start coming in bunches, expectations begin to rise.

All-around star Lorenzo Smothers picked up right where he left off in 2014 as the senior kept turning heads in Marion County's 40-6 season opening win over Miller County Friday night.

"Lorenzo is just a special player," Marion County coach Mike Swaney said. "He can take it to the outside with his speed, run straight over you with his power and make you miss.

"He has it all."

Despite touching the ball just five times on offense, Smothers finished the night with 119 total offensive yards with two touchdowns. The balk of his yardage came from the ground as he gained 86 rushing yards.

The speedster also had a special team's touchdown, taking the opening kickoff of the second half 68 yards to the end zone.

However, it wasn't all Smothers for the Eagles on Friday night as Marion County racked up 350 yards on offense. Including Smothers, three Eagle players rushed for over 60 yards, including junior Mykelle Kelley, who ran for a game-high 127 yards with a touchdown.

"Our offensive line is one of our strong points added," Swaney said. "We have four senior linesman and this is the quickest team we have ever had, so we expect to be able to move the ball on the ground this season."

The only thing that didn't go well for Marion County on Friday was its opening possession, as the Eagles fumbled the ball away in Miller County territory.

However, after forcing the Pirates to punt, the Eagles got right on the board. On his third touch of the game, Smothers hit a big one, using his speed to get to the outside before juking a defensive back, to complete a 34-yard rushing touchdown.

Smothers could have gotten another touchdown on the following possession after catching a Quentez Battle screen pass, but a Miller County defender saved the touchdown by grabbing onto Smothers' face mask for a penalty.

On the next play, Battle kept the ball on an option run and rushed it in to make it 13-0.

Marion County put the game to bed in the second quarter, going ahead 33-0 before halftime.

Smothers had another big run, this time a 42-yard score, while Kelley broke one for 49-yards right before the buzzer.

The highlight of the night came on the opening kickoff of the second half as Miller County tried to keep the ball away from Smothers, kicking it short to the right side of the field. However, Smothers picked the ball up on the bounce right around the Eagle 30-yard line.

Smothers raced up the right sideline before Miller County defenders trapped him and started grabbing his shirt from behind. Using his power and speed, Smothers slithered away and broke off to the left side of the field to complete the touchdown run.

"I knew they were trying to kick it away from me, but I wanted to make a play on it," Smothers said. "I saw the outside so I knew I had room and I just kept running when I felt them tugging on my back. But, I had great blocking on the kickoff team helping me."

"As a team, we played well overall, but we still have to improve on some things like playing faster and picking up on our keys," added Smothers.

Marion County's defense was stout all game allowing just over 100 yards for the game.

Miller County's touchdown came late in the fourth quarter, once the majority of Marion County's regulars were on the sideline.

For Miller, Jordan George rushed for 42 yards and a touchdown while Chris Stovall had 41 yards on the ground. Quarterback Dylan Johnson finished the night 4-of-8 with 40 yards passing.

"We made some major improvements on the defensive front from our scrimmages," said Swaney. "Miller was big, but we played some good fundamental football in the trenches and tackled well."

Marion County will have an open week before hosting Dooly County on September 11.Friday at Marion CountyMiller 0 0 0 6--6

Marion 13 20 7 0--40First Quarter

Marion--Lorenzo Smothers 34 run (Austin Brannon kick), 3:37

Marion--Quentez Battle 9 run (kick failed),Second QuarterMarion--Smothers 42 run (run failed), 9:00

Marion--Maurice Carter 10 run (Smothers pass from Battle),

Marion--Mykelle Kelley 49 run (kick failed), 0:14Third QuarterMarion--Smothers 68 kickoff return (Brannon kick), 11:42Fourth QuarterMiller--Jordan George 8 run (kick failed),

Team records: Miller County 0-1, Marion County 1-0. Next: Marion County, home vs. Dooly County, Sept. 11, 7:30 p.m.

This story was originally published August 28, 2015 at 11:03 PM with the headline "Lorenzo Smothers scores three TDS as Marion County rolls ."