McCutcheon football regular season ends in flames
LAFAYETTE — Friday night summed up McCutcheon's season in a nutshell.
And that was before an electrical fire near the school caused a power outage at Ellison Stadium with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter.
It was a fitting end to McCutcheon's regular season.
MORE:McCutcheon-Marion football game ends after fire breaks out near school
The game was called with Marion leading 31-0, putting the Mavericks at 3-6 entering the sectional.
"We've got to grow up," a frustrated McCutcheon coach Ken Frauhiger said. "We play nine sophomores. They've played all season long and they're no longer sophomores. We make sophomore mistakes over and over and over."
Issues that have plagued McCutcheon all season seemed to be in the rear view after a season-high 56 points last week.
They were back early and often against the Giants on Friday.
After forcing a turnover, McCutcheon's offense stalled on its first drive, hurting itself with a false start on third-and-1 at the Marion 29.
Kolby Borders pinned a Keaton Crum punt inside the 1, but Marion responded with an 11-play, 99-yard drive to go up 7-0.
The second McCutcheon drive ended at the Marion 12, one yard shy of a first down when quarterback Ethan Smith fumbled the fourth down snap, then picked it up and tried to lunge forward.
McCutcheon's defense then forced a Marion punt, only to fumble the catch.
The Giants recovered and scored two plays later to go up 14-0.
McCutcheon's third and final drive of the first half resulted in a turnover when a diving Josh Garcia was unable to corral a pass in the end zone, which deflected off him and into Marion safety Zaimar Burnett's hands for a 70-yard return that led to a field goal in the closing seconds of the second quarter.
"We've got to put the ball in the end zone," Frauhiger said. "Driving down the field doesn't do any good. We have to put the ball in the end zone."
It's been that kind of season for the Mavericks.
The defense was stellar in the season opener against Guerin Catholic, but the offense scored just seven points. A late drive against Kokomo that could have resulted in the game-winning score instead ended with a turnover.
Against county rivals West Lafayette, Lafayette Jeff and Harrison, the Mavericks were outscored 132-3. Despite marching up and down the field in the first half against the Raiders, McCutcheon left with a 42-0 loss.
Friday night, in pivotal situations, miscues proved costly.
Smith was picked off three times, including one that was returned for a touchdown. The Mavericks lost two fumbles, making for a five-turnover night and more than offsetting the three McCutcheon's defense forced.
Marion also won the battle in the trenches, rushing for 266 yards and holding the Mavericks to 30 yards on 21 carries, an average of 1.4 per tote.
Unless McCutcheon advances to the Class 5A state championship game, it will finish below .500 for the first time since 2013.
The good news is McCutcheon does not play next week.
Class 5A has an off week before postseason play begins.
There, the Mavericks get a chance to avenge the regular-season loss to Kokomo on Oct. 30.
Sam King covers high school sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @samueltking.
MARION 31, McCUTCHEON 0
Mar 7 10 14 0
McC 0 0 0 0
M — Cubie Jones 11 run (Kyle Coryea kick)
M — Malachi Silmon 2 run (Coryea kick)
M — Coryea 37 FG
M — Silmon 2 run (Coryea kick)
M — Ty Coleman 25 interception return (Coryea kick)
Rushing — Marion, Malachi Silmon 19-138, Cubie Jones 8-62, Khalid Stamps 12-43, Josh Balfour 4-29, Ty Coleman 1-6, Cain Richardson 3-(minus) 12; McCutcheon, Brad Gagnon 11-17, Ethan Smith 8-11, Leyton McGovern 2-2.
Passing — Marion, Jones 1-2-1 0, Richardson 1-3-0 8; McCutcheon, Smith 11-17-3 98.
Receiving — Marion, Balfour 2-8; McCutcheon, Josh Garcia 5-38, Brody Fine 2-26, Jadon Lawrence 2-24, Kam Little 1-7, Gagnon 1-3.
Marion is 6-3; McCutcheon is 3-6.