MARSHALL MAVERICKS
"FOR RED AND WHITE SHALL WAVE ON HIGH IN STRENGTH AND PURITY....
TO HONOR YOU WE'LL EVER STRIVE THROUGHOUT ETERNITY!!!!"
660 ALL-TIME WINS
2024 REGION SEMI-FINALISTS
The Marshall Mavericks claimed a 42-28 homecoming victory over the Nacogdoches Dragons Friday night to clinch a playoff berth. The win also puts Marshall as the #2 seed in hopes of hosting a home playoff game in the first round of the playoffs. Marshall is now (6-2) on the season. The Mavs will travel to Hallsville next.
After being being shut out for two consecutive games, the Marshall offense came alive for a 56-0 trampling of the Jacksonville Indians. The win improves Marshall to (5-2) on the season and (2-1) in district play as they now return home to face Nacogdoches. Photo Credit Jay Neal (Jacksonville Progress)
The Mavericks escaped Rose Stadium Friday night with a thrilling 43-42 win over the Tyler High Lions in the 2025 Season Opener. Marshall went for the 2 point conversion and the win with just under 2 mins left in the game. The #25 Mavs (1-0) now prepare for arch-rival Longview Photo Credit Geoff Mckay
The Marshall Mavericks claimed a 42-28 homecoming victory over the Nacogdoches Dragons Friday night to clinch a playoff berth. The win also puts Marshall as the #2 seed in hopes of hosting a home playoff game in the first round of the playoffs. Marshall is now (6-2) on the season. The Mavs will travel to Hallsville next.
MARSHALL CLINCHES PLAYOFF SPOT
MAVERICKS SLAY DRAGONS IN KEY DISTRICT BATTLE
PHOTO CREDIT GEOFF MCKAY
Nacogdoches entered Maverick Stadium Friday night on a five game winning streak and sitting at (6-1) on the season. Marshall was celebrating their homecoming festivities, looking to extend their Hoco winning streak to 40 consecutive.
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Marshall opened the game with an impressive 71 yard drive that was capped off with a 15 yard run by Ashtin Sparks to give the Mavs a 7-0 lead with 9:52 showing in the first stanza.
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Nacogdoches would then gift the Mavs a fumble that linebacker Da'Vaughn Tucker would scoop and score 32 yards for a quick 14-0 lead with 8:19 left in the opening quarter.
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Nac then put together an impressive drive of their own that put them on the Marshall 11 yard line, but the Mav defense held on fourth down to preserve the 14-0 lead.
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The Dragons put together another long drive of 69 yards but again were turned away by the Mav defense at the Marshall 15 yard line.
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Marshall's offense went into hibernation after the game's opening dive with three straight possessions that ended in punts.
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Nac was finally able to take advantage of Marshall's offensive slumber just before halftime when they needed only 45 yards to find the endzone to cut the Maverick lead to 14-7 with only 19 seconds left before halftime.
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The Dragons retained the momentum to open the third quarter with a 61 yard drive that tied the game at 14-14 with 8:46 left in the third.
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That's when the Maverick offense woke up and the wheels fell off for Nac.
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Mav strong safety Justin Murry stepped in front of a pass and took the pick six 44 yards for the score and a 21-14 Marshall lead with 5:20 left in the third stanza.
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QB Alton Henderson then hit WR Jamarion Sparks for a perfect 41 yard pass to open the fourth quarter to increase the Marshall lead to 28-14 with 11:54 left in the game.
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Free Safety Monta Haynes ended another Nac threat with a huge interception at the Mav 20 to stop the Dragon march.
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Marshall took advantage of the Nac miscue and drove 80 yards to take a 35-14 lead on a spectacular 32 yard run by Henderson.
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In a completely bizarre turn of events Marshall's ensuing kickoff was from NAC's 30 yard line thanks to a pair of unsportsmanlike penalties on the Dragons. The Mavs then recovered the squib kick at the Nac 15.
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Marshall would score again thanks to the short field to take a commanding 42-14 lead,
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Nacogdoches tacked on a pair of late scores to make the final 42-28.
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Marshall finished with 307 total yards. 251 on the ground and 56 through the air.
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Nacogdoches had 385 total yards. 274 through the air and 111 on the ground.
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Marshall improves to (6-2) (3-1) while Nac falls to (6-2) (3-1).
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Both teams have clinched playoff berths and are battling for a home playoff game.
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BATTLE OF HIGHWAY 80 UP NEXT FOR MAVS
MARSHALL TRAVELS TO HALLSVILLE TO FACE DESPARATE BOBCATS
PHOTO CREDIT GEOFF McKAY
Marshall has a long list of current rivals on their schedule this season that they have shared 100 years of history with: Tyler, Longview, Texas High, Jacksonville, Nacogdoches....
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Hallsville is one of the Marshall's newest rivals, first meeting in 2000. While there isn't as much history between the Mavs and Bobcats.....there's no lack of bad blood in the cross-county rivalry.
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The 2025 version is no different.
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Marshall has already punched their post-season ticket thanks to their big win over Nacogdoches last week. The Mavs are (6-2) (3-1) and currently in second place in district 7-5A behind first place Texas High.
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Hallsville is currently (2-2) in district play and is tied with Mount Pleasant (2-2) for the fourth and final playoff spot. Both are (2-6) on the season.
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While Marshall has already clinched, they still have some work to do in the final two weeks of the regular season. The Mavs need to win out Vs. Hallsville and Whitehouse to keep themselves in the driver's seat for the home playoff game for bi-district.
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Marshall and Nacogdoches are both (3-1) with the Mavs currently holding the tie-breaker over the Dragons. However... a slip up by Marshall or a Nac upset of Texas High could steal that precious home playoff game away.
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That means wins are a must in the final two weeks.
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The Bobcats are looking to sneak into the playoffs much the same way they did last season.
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A Hallsville win over Marshall coupled with a MP loss to Nac this week would put the Bobcats in great shape.
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A Marshall win over Hallville coupled with a Nac win over MP would set up a battle between the Bobcats and the Tigers in the season finale. A game Hallsville won last year to advance and keep MP sitting at home.
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Marshall's wins this season include victories over Tyler High, Tyler Legacy, Palestine, Mount Pleasant, Jacksonville, and Nacogdoches. Losses have been to Longview (20-7) and Texas High (14-0).
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Hallsville's two wins came against Jacksonville and Whitehouse who are a combined (2-16).
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The Mavericks have won 9 of the last 10 games Vs. the Bobcats. Hallsville's lone win in the last decade was in 2022.
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