Byron sacked by Marshall in state football quarterfinals

WOODBURY — Defense figured to rule the day in Thursday's quarterfinal Class 4A football game between Byron and Marshall at East Ridge High School.

It did.

In a contest matching a pair of 9-1 teams that each allow just seven points per game this season, it was Marshall's defense that prevailed.

The Tigers held Byron scoreless, showing off a ferocious and timely pass rush all night as they ended the Bears' season, winning 21-0.

Both teams entered with 9-1 records and sporting matching stats, each averaging 37 points and allowing just seven.

Byron did manage to accumulate some offensive yards. Star running back Carson Heimer finished with 143 yards on the ground. The problem was converting on third and fourth downs. The latter down was the most painful for the Bears. Five times they went for it on fourth down and not once did they convert.

Credit that pass rush of Marshall's. Almost all of those fourth down misses ended with Marshall sacks. The Tigers finished with eight sacks overall.

Marshall took a 7-0 lead into halftime. Byron looked like it was in shape to tie things up just before intermission, but had a drive die inside the Tigers' 5 yard line.

Marshall scored once in the third quarter, set up by a 36-yard double pass. They also scored once in the fourth quarter, that one set up after stopping Byron on fourth down deep in Bears territory.

There were a handful of big plays in the game and virtually all of them went Marshall's way.

Byron's loss ended a nine-game winning streak.