Darren Kinnard/River Radio Sports Central
MARION — Last summer, former teammates Brett Diel and Jason Dunning brought their Carterville and Marion football teams together for a joint summer practice. With the IHSA now allowing teams to scrimmage against another team the week before the season openers, Diel and Dunning knew the perfect scrimmage partners.
The Lions and Wildcats met in Marion with varsity, junior varsity, and freshmen all getting time under the lights in front of a largely full stadium.
The varsity scrimmage consisted of four, 12-play segments, giving teams 24 plays on offense and 24 on defense as no special teams plays were allowed.
Nick Bisching connected with Mason Watts for a touchdown during Carterville’s first segment. Marion answered with a Callahan Roper to Logan Hoffman 75-yard TD on a tipped pass. Ryan Calonne ran in what would’ve been a two-point conversion for the Wildcats.
Marion did not score during its second offensive segment. Carterville senior running Chance Myers scored on a 10-yard touchdown run with Bisching adding the two-point conversion on the final play of the scrimmage.
Carterville will open the season at home Friday night against Benton, while Marion will be at home Saturday to open against Herrin.
