Marion County's Hayden Tudors (66) blocks the punt of Jackson County's Josh Mee (3).MARION COUNTY 49, JACKSON COUNTY 6Star: Blake Zeman touched the ball 10 times and scored five touchdowns for the Warriors.Up next: Marion (10-1) will play Trousdale County. Jackson County ends its season at 7-5.
JASPER, Tenn. - The numbers were as clear and as cutting as the frozen night air.
Visiting Jackson County, which earned its first playoff win in three decades a week earlier, went three-and-out time and again Friday night in an avalanche first half as Marion County rode the powerful strides of Blake Zeman into the third round of the Class 2A playoffs.
"We watched them on film and knew we had our work cut out for us," Jackson County coach Sean Loftis said after his team's season ended with a 49-6 loss to the Warriors. "We have had a tough time scoring, so we wanted to try to control the ball and keep them off the field.
"But they started quickly."
Quickly for sure, and powerfully for all to see.
Zeman scored on his first touch -- a 60-yard run -- and added three other TD runs and an 80-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the first 21 minutes. Zeman, who was named a 2A Tennessee Mr. Football finalist this week, added three tackles for loss in the decisive first half and knocked Jackson County quarterback Josh Mee out of the game with a big hit along the visitors' sideline.
"There's always more pressure in the playoffs when you know that any loss ends your season," said Zeman, who touched the ball 10 times and scored five times. "We know every team is in the playoffs for a reason, so we wanted to make sure we focused on this game and started fast."
Quarterback Bryce Massengale and Josh Henderson added short scoring runs in the second quarter, which Loftis described as "a disaster."
Marion scored five times -- including two short-field drives keyed by two blocked punts by Hayden Tudors -- in the decisive second quarter.
Before the game first-year Marion County coach Ricky Ross stared at the field, his glare fixed on the unknown canvas that is playoff football.
"We had a very good week of practice," he said before the game, "but you never know how they will react."
Ross got the answer he wanted early.
Jackson County got one first down in its first seven possessions as Zeman and Tudors paced a relentless defense that limited Jackson County to 61 yards on 32 first-half plays and forced three turnovers before the mercy rule was activated after halftime.
"We wanted to come out and be physical on offense and defense," Zeman said, "and make sure we did everything we could."
Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com