QB makes things happen for Middletown

4 turnovers plague Troy as Jalin Marshall leads Middies to victory in their home opener.

Middletown quarterback Jalin Marshall (center) rushed for 180 yards and three touchdowns Friday, Sept. 3, against Troy at Barnitz Stadium in Middletown. He also passed for 107 yards and a touchodown. Staff photo by Nick Graham

Nick Graham/MBR Middletown quarterback Jalin Marshall (center) rushed for 180 yards and three touchdowns Friday, Sept. 3, against Troy at Barnitz Stadium in Middletown. He also passed for 107 yards and a touchodown. Staff photo by Nick Graham

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By Skip Weaver, Staff Writer 1:45 AM Saturday, September 4, 2010

MIDDLETOWN — Middletown High School quarterback Jalin Marshall was once again a difference maker.

For the second straight week, Marshall zigged and zagged his way through the opposing defense. This time, it helped lead the Middies to a 38-7 win over Troy on Friday night, Sept. 3, in their home opener at Barnitz Stadium.

Marshall carried the ball 17 times for 180 yards and three touchdowns. He also completed 8-of-16 passes for 107 yards and a score.

Marshall’s 58-yard touchdown run with 3:41 to go in the third quarter was the game changer.

Middletown kicker Aaron Kimbrough had kicked a 30-yard field goal to lift the Middies to a 17-0 lead with 7:35 left in the third period.

Troy took over at its own 23-yard line and immediately quarterback Cody May connected with Marcus Foster for a 61-yard completion. Two plays later, Fred Whitson scrambled to the end zone from 13 yards out and Troy was only down 17-7.

That’s when they pulled out a trick play. The Trojans successfully attempted an onside kick and took over at the Middies 46. The first play was another big completion from May to Foster for 30 yards, putting the Trojans at the Middie 15.

But a couple of plays later, a Troy fumble — one of four on the night — was recovered by Middletown’s Zach Davis. Five plays later, Marshall went up the gut for the 58-yard score.

“We even talked about that onside kick, but they executed it,” Middletown coach Jason Krause said. “We knew we couldn’t let them hang around. The Foster kid is really good, but our defense played really well, too. We were able to turn them away in our red zone and get the ball back to our offense.

“No doubt Jalin is a difference maker,” he continued. “When he gets in open space, he makes things happen.”

Middletown (2-0) amassed 405 yards of total offense, while the defense held the Trojans to just 238 yards.

Troy coach Steve Nolan pointed to his team’s four turnovers as the difference.

“The score should have been 17-14, but that fumble changed the whole game,” Nolan said. “We played well other than those missed opportunities. If we put that ball in the end zone, we have an excellent shot,” he continued. “We just can’t put the ball on the ground like that. Two of our fumbles led to touchdowns for them. That’s just dumb and that’s why the score doesn’t indicate how well we played.”

Shaitan Wright added a rushing touchdown, and Zach Edwards had six catches for 66 yards and a TD for the Middies.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2852, or sweaver@coxohio.com.

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