Mistakes cost Marbury a win in opener

By Brent Maze (Contact) | Clanton Advertiser

Published Thursday, August 28, 2008

MARBURY — MARBURY – Mistakes and questionable officiating doomed the Marbury Bulldogs last night as they fell to rival Holtville 28-12.

Several key plays in the game were two fumbles recovered by Holtville, a questionable chop-block penalty on the Marbury defense and what appeared to be a non-existent muffed punt, also recovered by Holtville.

It was so bad at one point that Marbury coach Kyle Glover called timeout to question the referees’ call on the chop-block penalty.

However, Holtville took advantage of the breaks. On Holtville’s first possession, the Bulldogs drove the field and scored the first touchdown with 7:54 left in the first quarter.

Later, after recovering the second Marbury fumble, Holtville’s Akveius McCall scored the second touchdown to put them up 14-0 at halftime.

Marbury came out of the locker room with new life in the third quarter as Keston Chatman hooked up with Wesley Warren for a 20-yard touchdown strike, cutting the score to 14-6.

The muffed punt allowed Holtville to put the game away. Jonathan Arant threw a touchdown to make it 21-6.

An insurance touchdown came by the way of McCall in the fourth quarter.

Marbury didn’t give up as they drove 90 yards to score on Chatman’s 1-yard quarterback sneak with 3:34 left in the game.

On the ensuing kickoff, Marbury’s onside kick failed to go 10 yards, and Holtville was able to run out the clock.

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