What A Start For The Carterville Lions

No one can remember when the Carterville Lions and the Marion Wildcats faced off on the gridiron, if at all. That changed on Friday night as both teams open the 2025 IHSA High School football season at Lions Field.

If front of the fantastic crowd, these two teams slugged it out. It was the quick hit offense of the Marion Wildcats and QB Callahan Roper and the methodical run game of the Lions, led by by Johnathan Miller.

Tied at 7 after the first quarter the Wildcats led 14-13 at the halftime break.

To start off the 3rd quarter, the Lions, who had deferred the coin toss to start the game, had the ball to start the second half. They regained the lead after a thirteen play, eight minute drive capped offf by a seven yard run by Johnny Miller. After a successfull two point conversion, the Lions let 21-14. The Marion Wildcats only had one, five play possision in the third quarter and that was only for five offensive plays, which ended by punting the ball away.

The next offensive possesion by the Lions started at the 4:05 mark of the third quarter. Almost eight minutes of game time later the Lions went ahead 28-14 after a fourteen play drive with Miller scoring once again on a seven yard carry with 8:33 remaining in the game.

Marion QB Callahan Roper, who ran an almost exclusive passing game, for good reason, led the Wildcats in a come from behind campaign in the fourth quarter. It was a five yard TD pass from Roper to Adkins that pulled the Cats to within eight, 28-20 after the two point conversion was no good.

The Lions get the ball back with 7:36 remaining and score on a quick six play drive when Miller scores his third touchdown of the game from six yards out. The Lions led 35-20 with 4:17 remianing i n the game..

The Cats would score again, just three plays later when Roper hits Thomas for a 55 yard touchdown across the middle. Marion goes for two, but the official said the receiver stepped out of bounds on the catch. A big break for the Carterville Lions, as they lead 35-26 with 3:34 remaining.

Marion is in a position where they have to attempt an onside kick to get the ball back. It appeared that Carterville QB Andy Johnson had the ball covered at first, but it squirted out and the Wildcats recover, getting the ball back.

This possesion only last three plays as Roper hit Thomas once again for a 22 yard td pass. This time the two point conversion makes it 35-34 with 3:05 left in the game.

Carterville recovers the onside attempt this time, as Andy Johnson falls on the ball. Johnson and the offense try to run out the clock, but wind up having to punt the ball away, giving it back to the quick hit offense of the Wildcats.

With just :22 seconds left and the ball at their own twelve yard line, Roper lauches a long pass across the middle, intended for Thomas once again, but this time Aiden Swallers picks it off to preserve the one point win 35-34.

Just a fantantic game to start the season.

Here are the game highlights as heard with Keenan Clark and myself on NewsRadio WJPF.

Coach Brett Diel was very please with his football team and how they fought hard to get the win.

Carterville will be at home for week two as they welcome the Nashville Hornets to Lions Field for a non-conference matchup. Pregame coverage will start at 6:40 with kick off at 7:00 PM on NewsRadio WJPF.