Brownsburg RB Donny Marcus not shy about stating case for Mr. Football — and he's off to a good start

BROWNSBURG – After an explosive first half Friday in the high school football season opener, the Brownsburg offense was struggling. Ben Davis was surging, the momentum on the Giants’ side. The Bulldogs needed to quell the tumult. So they gave the ball to senior running back Donovan Marcus. Again, and again, and… nine times in a 12-play series, to be exact.

The Class 6A No. 4 Bulldogs drained nearly six minutes off the clock during the drive. Though Brownsburg didn’t score on the series, the Ben Davis offense was backed up with just over two minutes remaining when it got the ball back. The Bulldogs defense held the No. 9 Giants without a first down to end the game and preserve a 29-24 win.

Marcus, the workhorse who surpassed 1,700 yards on the ground as a junior, finished Friday with 134 yards on 29 carries two go with a touchdown and two-point conversion run. Fifty-eight of those yards came on the Bulldogs final series, when he averaged 6.4 yards per carry. 

“I think he’s the best player in the state of Indiana,” said Bulldogs coach John Hart. “Now, we’ve got to win enough ball games to prove it. The schedule we’re playing is probably going to register as the toughest schedule in the state before it’s all over. If that kid can play like this every night against those kinds of teams, he deserves a lot of accolades. It was a collective team win. But when it comes down to toughness, you lean on seniors and you lean on your leaders and Donny is definitely that.”

At 6-0, 190 pounds, the Ball State recruit showcased Friday his ability to use both finesse and power to pick up yardage. At times it was a juke move that allowed him to elude a defender — drawing “oohs” from the crowd. During others, like a 19-yard pickup on a third-and-one on the final drive, Marcus powered through and over defenders.

“Donny is the best running back in the state,” said junior quarterback Ben Easters, who is also among the top players at his position. “I have no doubt about that. He can tote the rock. He’s the reason we won this game.”

For subscribers:Choir-singing TE turned QB leads Warren Central to dramatic win

Indy-area roundup:Scores, stats and highlights from Week 1

When asked his goals for the season, Marcus isn’t coy. 

“I think Mr. Football would be a great thing to win,” he said. “I also think a state championship would be nice. I just want be better than I was last year in yards, yards per carry and stuff like that.”

The Bulldogs are also looking for improvement after a 10-0 start last year culminated with a sectional championship blowout loss to Avon. Friday was a good start. The victory was the their first ever over the Giants and also marked the program’s 400th win.

Easters, a Kansas commit, completed 8-of-13 passes for 150 yards and three touchdowns. Junior receivers Preston Terrell (four catches, 96 yards, one touchdown) and Luke Lacey (three catches, 52 yards, two touchdowns) were his primary targets.

For subscribers: Video highlights of how Brownsburg beat Ben Davis

Still, Brownsburg (1-0) showed some vulnerability in a scoreless second half that saw Ben Davis threaten after trailing 29-10.

Senior running back Alijawon Hassell rushed for 104 yards on 19 carries, and also tossed a 12-yard touchdown pass, for the Giants (0-1).

“We just couldn’t overcome penalties,” said Ben Davis coach Jason Simmons. “We had 14 penalties; they had three. We just made too many mistakes. You have to tip your hat to them. I thought Donny Marcus did a nice job on the perimeter. They did a nice job with the check-with-me run game. It was a good win for them.”

BROWNSBURG 29, BEN DAVIS 24

Brownsburg   14  15  0  0 — 29

Ben Davis   0  3  7   14  — 24

Scoring Plays

BB – Donovan Marcus 14 run (Clay Chase kick)

BB – Luke Lacey 8 pass from Ben Easters (Chase kick)

BD – 31 FG Zach Fox

BB – Lacey 40 pass from Easters (Marcus run)

BD – Daylan Carnell 17 pass from Trent Gipson (Fox kick)

BB – Preston Terrell 28 pass from Ben Easters (Chase kick)

BD – Jaylen Nolan 12 pass from Alijawon Hassel (Fox kick)

BD – Hassel 2 run (Fox kick)

Rushing — Ben Davis, Alijawon Hassel 19-104, Gipson 14-64, Carnell 3-13, Trez Cushingberry 4-22, Adrian Reese 1-(-6). Brownsburg, Marcus 29-134, Brandon Burks 2-3, Caleb Marcus, Easters 2-(-5). 

Passing — Ben Davis, Gipson 8-17-1 91, Hassel 1-1-0 12. Brownsburg, Easters 8-13-0 150.

Receiving — Ben Davis, Jaylen Nolen 2-31, Jaden Brown 1-12, Carnell 4-43. Brownsburg, Terrell 4-96, Lacey 3-52, Josh Sales 1-2.