CARBONDALE — Friday night marked the first time in 503 days that Marion or Carbondale had played a football game. It was even longer for Wildcats’ senior quarterback Hunter Simmons. Simmons, who transferred to Marion from Mt. Vernon, had not played since October of 2019.

You would’ve known it.

Simmons completed 23-38 passing for 392 yards and two touchdowns and added a rushing touchdown to lead the Wildcats to an impressive 65-28 win over the Terriers.

Carbondale jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on Darius Ragland’s two-yard touchdown run. The Wildcats tied it up later in the quarter on Lukas Shrum’s six-yard TD.

Marion took the lead in the second on the first of Deavon Margrum’s three one-yard scoring runs. Then following Quentin Anthony’s second interception of the first half, Simmons connected with Venson Newsom for a 39-yard touchdown pass as the Wildcats led 21-7 at the half.

The third quarter was quiet until a crazy final minute and a half.

After Carbondale was unable to capitalize on a pair of Marion turnovers early in the third, Simmons found Tommy Wiseman for a 12-yard touchdown and a 28-7 lead.

Jalen Jackson returned the ensuing kickoff 66 yards all the way down to the Marion eight yard line to breathe some life back in the Terriers. Ragland threw a touchdown pass to Lamark Threadgill on the next play, pulling Carbondale back within 28-13.

Simmons led the Wildcats right back down the field and scored on a 15-yard keeper to extend Marion’s lead to 35-13.

Carbondale’s special teams struck again, as Demarcus Funchess returned the ensuing kickoff 78 yards for a touchdown. The Terriers converted the two-point conversion to cut it to 35-21 heading to the fourth. The two teams combined for 28 points in the final minute and a half of the quarter.

Marion put it away with 22 unanswered points in the first six and a half minutes of the fourth. Chase Isbell and Margrum (twice) scored on short touchdown runs for the Wildcats during scoring spree.

With no postseason this year, Marion and Carbondale will play twice during the six week season. This first matchup was officially a non-conference game. The two teams will open South 7 play next week as the Wildcats will host Cahokia, and the Terriers will welcome Centralia. Last season, Cahokia, Carbondale, and Marion all shared the conference title.