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High School Sports

September 18, 2008

Outlaws, Indians set for grudge match

MHS looks for third straight rivalry win

Ryan Hatch

MARLOW — Marlow’s football team knows it may have gotten away with one last week.

After being down early, the Outlaws came roaring back in the fourth quarter, stunning Elgin’s crowd with a 20-15 win. This week, they know it’s going to be a tougher battle as Comanche hosts the Outlaws in a rivalry dating back several decades.

The Indians, coming off a pedestrian-like 41-9 loss to Cache, can hardly wait to get back on the field. They are looking to prove their identity is closer to the team that took Velma-Alma into double overtime during Week 1, rather than last week’s team that surrendered 224 rushing yards to Cache.

Comanche head coach Brent Clark said his team didn’t perform up to the level of expectation he and his coaching staff set, but expects to see more inspired play this week. This game, he said, has the potential to have more intensity in not just this season, but many of his players’ careers.

“Like any rivalry, this game has a playoff atmosphere,” Clark said. “We have a lot of kids on this team that haven’t tasted a big game with a chance to really do something.”

In order to do that, Comanche will have to make sure and corral the Outlaw offense. While Marlow’s attack starts and ends with the running the football, they have shown the ability to pass the ball effectively, gaining 128 yards though the air last week against Elgin.

“Our backs have to do the right things,” head coach Barry Foster said. “Taking care of the football and following our blocks and we’ll be able to complete some passes.”

Marlow quarterback Chance Rice had 100 yards last week on 6-of-15 passing, while Drew Wortham added a 28-yard touchdown pass to win the game in the last seconds.

Wortham said earlier this week he is looking forward to the game, seeing both of the student sections geared up and having the fans just as emotionally involved as the players. Last year, Marlow walked over Comanche in a 35-0 win.

But not unlike other rivalries, most stats and previous win totals are let go when the referree’s whistle blows.

“With it being such a big rival, you can throw records out, you can throw the previous score out,” Foster said. “It’s a big fierce battle that’s been going on for years.”

Foster said he can remember when he coached at Rush Springs that he knew when the Comanche-Marlow game was going on, because it was always meant so much to the area.

Clark said its games like this that are the reason to coach. And as with any good rivalry, bragging rights are always at stake.

“Coming out will be a challenge,” Clark said. “Being able to brag for a year, or, taking a little bit of a beating because they get to brag for a year.”

The game kicks off at 7:30 p.m., Friday night at Harley Stadium in Comanche.

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