Marion Harding kicked off the C.J. Westler Era with a victory for its new head coach.
The Presidents went to Mount Vernon and came home with a 21-14 win Friday, Aug. 22 in Week 1.
Cordez Feliciano threw two touchdown passes to Ray J Scott-Harbolt and Landen Keller ran in another TD for Harding. Josiah Gooden added a pair of big runs on the night.
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The Prexies led 14-7 at halftime, then got a late state to preserve the win over the Yellow Jackets.
Here are more results from Week-1 football from around the Marion area:
Ridgedale 28, Hilltop 14
Like Westler and Pleasant’s Russell Norton, add Asch Tilley to the list of first-year head coaches who earned Week 1 wins. Ridgedale beat Hilltop at home.
The defense did its job led by the two interceptions, including a pick-6 by Kingston McGary. Michael Deas led the Rockets with 10 tackles and Brody Fultz added nine as Evan Rickets had four tackles and a fumble recovery and Ayden Salyer also intercepted a pass.
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On offense, Salyer had 77 yards and two touchdowns on just five carries, while Deas had 15 touches for 57 rushing yards.
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Cardington 32, Wynford 27
Wyatt Denney, last year’s Knox Morrow Athletic Conference Football Player of the Year, picked up where he left off last year. He finished with 191 yards on 30 carries, scoring two touchdowns, while also making 13 tackles, int3ercepting a pass and recording a safety.
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He wasn’t alone for the Pirates as Josh Goers ran it 18 times for 156 yards and two scores, plus 3-for-6 passing for 50 yards, including a touchdown pass to Lleytin Henthorn. Goers also made seven tackles.
On defense for Cardington, Christopher Kinsey made 10 tackles and Lucas Block added eight.
C.J. Westler, shown coaching at Pleasant last year, won his first game back at his alma mater for Marion Harding on Friday night.
Mount Gilead 31, Triad 6
Mount Gilead never trailed as the offense rolled up 499 total yards, while holding its opponent to less than 100.
The defense held Triad to negative-15 yards rushing and forced two turnovers, but its offense was even better. Carson Barnum ran 30 times for 276 yards and three touchdowns, while Cole Fricke added 70 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries and Jacob Wilt had 75 yards on 10 touches. Fricke completed two passes for 61 yards.
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Northmor 16, Upper Sandusky 0
The Golden Knights produced a shutout, forcing the Rams into three turnovers and holding Upper Sandusky to 258 total yards.
On offense, Tanner Miley was 16 of 23 passing for 131 yards with a pair of touchdowns, plus he ran it for 63 yards on 14 carries. Stockdale was his top target with six catches for 82 yards and the two TDs.
Carson Campbell added 66 running yards on 12 carries. Brady Carr broke a scoreless game in the first half with a 31-yard field goal, and he had an interception on defense.
Fredericktown 21, Highland 6
The Freddies led 7-0 at halftime, but Zach Church cut the lead to 7-6 early in the third quarter. Fredericktown answered right back then added a third TD to put the game away. Kane Stover and Church led the Scots in rushing, while Stover also led the team in tackles.
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This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Week 1 Roundup: New coaches earn high school football victories
