MARION — The Marion Wildcats made the absolute most of the COVID-shortened, spring football season finishing a perfect 6-0 and the unofficial champions of the South 7 thanks to a 54-29 win over Carbondale.

The “unofficial” designation is because the conference has not made a final decision about crowning champions this year.

Senior quarterback Hunter Simmons ran in two touchdowns and threw a third to lead the Wildcat attack. Marion jumped out to a 16-0 lead, but the Terriers rattled off 23 unanswered points to take a second quarter lead. The Wildcats scored a TD and added the two-point conversion late in the half to take a 24-23 lead into intermission.

Carbondale opened the third quarter by recovering an onside kick but could not cash in. Marion took advantage with a pair of Brody Larson short touchdown runs as well as a pair of two-point conversions to push the lead to 40-23 early in the fourth.

Terriers’ senior Andre Jackson returned the ensuing kickoff 87 yards for his second kickoff return TD of the day to pull Carbondale back within 40-29. Simmons put it away though with a 27-yard touchdown run and a 42-yard touchdown pass to Venson Newsom.

After the game, as the Wildcats were celebrating the win at midfield with friends and family, Marion police and Williamson County deputies responded to a disturbance near Carbondale’s locker room. Two people were arrested, and Terriers head coach Bryan Lee ended up going to the hospital, where he was treated and released. Witnesses say those arrested both had struck Lee. No further information from authorities is available at this point about the arrests.