Canton Repository

ALLIANCE

The throng of people at Marlington Stadium on Thursday night expecting to see the Dymonte Thomas Show went home disappointed.

Thomas, a University of Michigan recruit, was limited to 31 yards rushing by a tenacious Poland defense that sent half a dozen tacklers at him at times.

What the Dukes fans did applaud was a Marlington supporting cast stepping out of the shadows and taking a starring role in a tense 10-3 triumph over a tough Poland team.

Junior quarterback Shawn Kirk’s 7-yard touchdown pass to senior Dan Krupko with 10.4 seconds left gave the Dukes the win in a battle of two superb defenses.

“I was disappointed in our defense in the preseason, but they came to play tonight,” said Dukes coach Ed Miley.

Miley had reason to be pleased with his defensive cast of unknowns.

Marlington limited the Bulldogs to 101 total yards of offense, recovered three fumbles and made an interception.

Free safety Austin Hoover had a fumble recovery and an interception on back-to-back series to open the second half. Sophomore defensive end Austin Zufall had a sack to stop a deep Poland drive in the second quarter and recovered a fumble the next possession. Senior linebacker Anthony Wilks was a force.

Thomas, too, made big defensive plays, coming up with a fumble recovery and a team-high 12 tackles.

Even Marlington’s winning score was set up by a great defensive stand that forced Poland into kicking a tying field goal instead of taking the lead. A blitzing Thomas nailed Poland back Tyler Evan on a third-and-4 play from the Dukes’ 4.

“We had a third-down play we liked, but they turned up a blitz,” Poland coach Mark Brungard said. “Dymonte timed it up right in there and got some movement back. If we could’ve punched it in there it would have been a whole different deal.

“Credit to them.”

Marlington’s offense then converted the one drive it needed to grab its eighth straight season opener. Until that point its scoring was nothing more than Kirk’s line-drive 31-yard field goal in the third quarter.

Krupko’s end zone fade reception was set up by a 34-yard yard jump-ball grab he made four plays earlier, and a pass interference call in the end zone against Poland while defending Krupko on the play before the touchdown on third-and-15 that gave the Dukes new life.