Marshall Takes What It Receives

Marshall High’s secondary knew that it was headed for a big game Friday at Marshall when Lincoln quarterback Garardo Roman looked in the direction of his passes before each play.

The defenders took advantage, getting six interceptions in a 17-12 victory that puts the Barristers within one game of their first major City league title in 30 years.

Marshall improved to 7-0-1 overall, 5-0 in the Northern Conference. A victory over Belmont next week would give the Barristers the conference championship for the first time since 1961. Marshall won a four-team league title in 1988.

“(Roman) wasn’t accurate and you can read his eyes on every play,” said Marshall safety Richard Gomez, who intercepted two passes.

Marshall took control after Roman was intercepted for the third time in the first quarter. Jose Lopez returned Roman’s misguided pass to Lincoln’s 29-yard line. Marshall then scored on Hector Ortega’s 11-yard run to take a 7-0 lead on the first play of the second quarter.

Lincoln, which reached the 3-A Division final last season, cut Marshall’s lead to 7-6 on an 18-yard pass play from Roman to Alfred Durazo with 2:03 left in the half.

Then, things fell apart for the Tigers (6-2, 4-1) in a minute.

Deep in its territory, Lincoln decided to take an intentional safety on fourth down to give Marshall a 9-6 lead with a minute left. But after the kickoff, Jose Rodriguez completed a 56-yard touchdown pass play to Aman Abye, and then a two-point conversion pass to make it 17-6.

In the second half, both teams played strong defense and Roman could not rally Lincoln past Marshall.