Marion Athletics -

There will be much at stake this Friday night when Marion travels to play Sheridan in Grant County.

For starters, it's another 6A East football game, with huge postseason ramifications.

Second, it's a contrast of styles, featuring the run-heavy Marion offense and the pass-happy Sheridan offense.

Third, it's a pair of teams looking to introduce some consistency to their 2025 campaigns.

Finally, it's one of Arkansas' up-and-coming head coaches against one of the legendary coaches in the history of the state.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., and you can watch for free on the MPAN YouTube channel.

Marion and Sheridan enter play Friday night in a flat-footed tie for fourth place in the 6A East standings with identical 2-2 records.

This means that the winner of Friday's game will move a game ahead of the loser, with the head-to-head tiebreaker in tow, to boot.

Marion closes its 2025 season at home for Little Rock Catholic (2-5 overall, 1-3 6A East) and at two-time defending 6A East champion Benton (5-2, 3-1).

Sheridan caps its regular year with a road trip to Sylvan Hills before hosting El Dorado in the season finale.

Marion has made the playoffs every season since 2004.

Schematically, Marion and Sheridan could not be much different, with the Patriots running for almost 180 yards per game, while the Yellowjackets pass for more than 275 yards per game.

The two sides will look similar on special teams as each has proven to be aggressive on fourth downs with multiple options for onside kicks following scores.

Marion has alternated wins and losses over the past six weeks, and if there's an advantage for the Patriots, it's that they lost their previous outing, a 21-6 home defeat a week ago on Homecoming.

Sheridan has yet to win consecutive games so far in 2025, but the 'Jackets put together one of their better efforts a week ago in a 51-36 victory at Little Rock Catholic.

Kevin Kelley earned a great measure of notoriety as “The Coach Who Never Punts” during his ultra-successful tenure as head coach at Pulaski Academy.

Kelley guided the Bruins to 216 victories in 17 seasons, more than 12 per year, with nine state championships in 18 years. Pulaski Academy won Class 5A state championships in six of its last seven seasons with the Bruins.

So far, Kelley has guided Sheridan to six wins in his first two seasons, but this year's Yellowjackets have been noticeably better in every facet of the game.

One more victory in 2025 would give Sheridan its most prosperous season since winning five games in 2019.

For Marion, Lance Clark is in his fifth season at the school, and he's averaged seven wins per season, with three games left in the 2025 slate.

Clark's 2021 team advanced to the state semifinals for just the third time ever, and the 2023 Patriots earned a first-round bye, a conference runner-up finish, and a spot in the state quarterfinals.
Marion is 5-0 all-time against Sheridan, including a 42-21 win a season ago after a second-half rally at home.

HOW TO WATCH
Kickoff of the Marion-Sheridan football game is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday night, and you can watch for free on the MPAN YouTube channel.

6A EAST RESULTS FROM 10/17
Jonesboro 21, Marion 6
Benton 60, El Dorado 36
Sheridan 51, LR Catholic 36
Sylvan Hills 55, W. Memphis 12

6A EAST STANDINGS ON 10/20
SCHOOL. CONF. RECORD
Sylvan Hills 3-1
Benton 3-1
Jonesboro 3-1
Marion 2-2
El Dorado 2-2
Sheridan 2-2
LR Catholic 1-3
W. Memphis 0-4
The top six teams make the playoffs.

6A EAST GAMES ON 10/24
Marion at Sheridan
LR Catholic at Benton
El Dorado at W. Memphis
Sylvan Hills at Jonesboro